Years before federal investigators labeled her the “Ketamine Queen” and implicated her in supplying the drugs linked to the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry, Jasveen Sangha left an enigmatic quote in her high school yearbook in the Los Angeles area.
The quote next to Sangha’s photo in the Calabasas High School class of 2001 yearbook read, “It isn’t what they say about you, it’s what they whisper. We are each of us angels with only one wing; we can only fly by embracing one another.”
The yearbook did not credit the first part to Hollywood legend Errol Flynn or the second part to Italian actor and director Luciano De Crescenzo.
However, since then, the whispers about the now 41-year-old accused drug dealer have grown into a roar. On Thursday, Sangha was one of five individuals charged in connection with the death of 54-year-old Perry, who was found face down in the heated end of a pool at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that Perry’s death resulted from an accidental ketamine overdose. While ketamine has gained popularity as an off-label treatment for depression, it is known to be addictive and must be used in a controlled setting. It has also become a popular party drug.
Sangha faces multiple charges: one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of ketamine distribution.
She pleaded not guilty on Thursday, but the judge ordered her held without bail, citing her as a flight risk.
During her court appearance, Sangha wore large, round glasses and a baggy, bright-green Nirvana T-shirt, a stark contrast to the glamorous, jet-setting image she projects on Instagram and other social media platforms, where she posts about vacations in sun-drenched destinations like Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Records show Sangha had previously been listed as the “chief financial officer” of the Stiletto Nail Bar, a Studio City salon, until its closure. Her attorney, Mark Geragos, expressed that he believes the charges against her and the other defendants are excessive.
“Just because it’s a tragedy doesn’t mean it’s criminal,” Geragos said Thursday on NewsNation’s “Cuomo.” “I just don’t see it in terms of a criminal case. I understand people want to hold people accountable,” he added. “But I think they’re going to have a very tough time holding people accountable.”
