Late Friends actor Matthew Perry's stepmother has urged a California court to impose the maximum possible prison sentence on the woman who sold the ketamine that ultimately killed him.

Jasveen Sangha, known as 'Ketamine Queen,' caused 'irreversible' damage to Perry and potentially many others, Debbie Perry said in a victim impact statement submitted on Tuesday. 'The pain you've caused to hundreds maybe thousands is irreversible,' she wrote. 'There is no joy... No light in the window. They won't be back.'

Sangha, a dual US-UK citizen who has been in federal custody since 2024, is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday. She previously pleaded guilty to five charges, including one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

What the Left Is Saying

Victims and family members are calling for the harshest possible punishment in drug distribution cases that result in death. Debbie Perry's statement emphasized Sangha's choice to profit from a dangerous substance. 'You caused this... You who has talent for business enough to make money chose the one way that hurts people,' she wrote. The family has requested the maximum sentence 'so she won't be able to hurt other families like ours.'

Drug policy advocates on the left have long argued that dealing drugs resulting in death should carry significant prison time, viewing such cases as matters of public safety and holding suppliers accountable for fatal outcomes.

What the Right Is Saying

Those on the right generally support tough sentencing for drug distributors, particularly in cases involving deaths. The prosecution has argued Sangha's actions were deliberate and calculated, noting she instructed an associate to 'delete all our messages' after Perry's death. Her status as a businessperson who knowingly sold lethal substances has reinforced calls for maximum punishment.

Conservative commentators have pointed to the case as an example of why drug distribution, especially of controlled substances like ketamine, must be met with the full force of criminal penalties.

What the Numbers Show

Sangha faces more than six decades in prison when sentenced on Wednesday. She was convicted on five charges, including distributing ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

The case involved 51 vials of ketamine sold to Perry's personal assistant through an intermediary. Dr Salvador Plasencia, who supplied Sangha with ketamine, sold vials to Perry for $2,000 ($1,500) each. Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in jail last year.

Another defendant, Mark Chavez, received eight months of home detention and three years of supervised release. The personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who administered the fatal injections, and intermediary Erik Fleming are scheduled for sentencing later this month.

The Bottom Line

This case represents one of the most high-profile drug distribution resulting in death prosecutions in recent years. The sentencing will establish a benchmark for how such cases are handled. Beyond the criminal penalties, the case has highlighted issues around prescription drug oversight and celebrity substance abuse treatment. The family has expressed hope that a maximum sentence will prevent similar tragedies affecting other families.