The family of a Los Angeles man who died after allegedly using ketamine provided by the so-called “ketamine queen” feels a sense of vindication following the charges brought against her.
Jasveen Sangha, from North Hollywood, is facing nine charges, including distributing ketamine that resulted in death, connected to the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry last year.
Sangha is one of five individuals charged in what federal prosecutors describe as a vast underground criminal network that supplied drugs to Perry and others.
Cody McLaury’s family claims that Sangha supplied him with ketamine, leading to his death in 2019.
“For us, the most important thing is getting more answers,” said Katherine, a close friend of McLaury, in an exclusive interview with ABC News.
“The silver lining is that it brought attention back to Cody and pushed for an investigation that should have happened five years ago.”
McLaury’s sister, Kimberly, recalls seeing messages between her brother and Sangha after his death.
“I saw texts exchanged between them discussing ketamine, its availability, and pricing,” she shared.
Last month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office referenced McLaury’s death while announcing charges related to Perry’s case.
“In 2019, the defendant, Jasveen Sangha, sold ketamine to another customer. That person died the same day.
Despite this, Sangha continued selling drugs, including ketamine,” stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.
This week, Sangha’s attorney, Mark Geragos, asserted that his client had no connection to Perry.
“My client never met Matthew Perry and had nothing to do with him. All the supposed rumors are just that—urban legends,” said Geragos.
Geragos also objected to the nickname “Ketamine Queen,” which he claims was coined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“I appreciate the creativity of the nickname, but I don’t believe it belongs in an indictment,” he said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office responded by clarifying that they had not created the nickname: “We never claimed to have given her the ‘Ketamine Queen’ moniker. That was something her customers—Erik Fleming, in particular—used.”
In the indictment, Fleming is described as a broker who facilitated Perry’s ketamine acquisition. Estrada previously remarked, “Defendant Sangha sold the batch of ketamine that resulted in Mr. Perry’s death on October 28th.”
Geragos, however, dismissed the allegations: “The idea that the fatal dose is somehow tied to my client is absolute nonsense.”
Sangha was arrested six months ago on unrelated charges and released, and Geragos expressed confusion over why she remains the only defendant being held without bond, despite the U.S. Attorney’s Office having the same evidence as before. Sangha’s trial is set for March next year.
