The "Ketamine Queen" moniker raises legal questions before Matthew Perry's criminal trial.

The woman accused of providing ketamine to Matthew Perry has sparked a legal debate due to her nickname "Ketamine Queen."

Duncan Levin, Harvey Weinstein's former defense attorney, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that although the move was "strategic," the use of the nickname "risks unfairly prejudicing the jury."

Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen" in court documents, was charged with six counts related to the distribution of ketamine and methamphetamine.

Sangha's legal team refuted the claim that she had ever met Perry, who passed away on Oct. 28 from an apparent ketamine overdose.

Mark Geragos, Sangha's lawyer, stated to ABC7 that his client never met Matthew Perry, has no connection to him, and the rumors linking them are simply urban legends.

The U.S. Attorney's Office was criticized by Geragos for using the term "Ketamine Queen" to describe Sangha in the indictment.

"I don't think it has any place in an indictment," he said. "I admire the cleverness of it."

"In the end, while it may grab attention, it also opens the door for claims of prosecutorial misconduct or unfair labeling." — Duncan Levin, Harvey Weinstein's former defense attorney

The U.S. Attorney's Office clarified that they did not give the "Ketamine Queen" nickname to the woman in question, stating that it was her customers, including Erik Fleming, who gave her this name.

Levin, who is not involved in Sangha's case, explained that the nickname "paints the defendant in a highly negative light before any evidence is even presented, suggesting a central role in drug-related crimes."

"The defense may contend that the name is inflammatory and irrelevant, particularly if it originated from another source, as it could influence jurors and divert their attention from the facts. Ultimately, although it may attract attention, it could also pave the way for accusations of prosecutorial misconduct or unjust labeling."

Sangha was accused by the U.S. Attorney's Office of giving Perry the lethal dose of ketamine through her intermediaries, Erik Fleming and Kenneth Iwamasa.

Sangha was introduced to Fleming, who was acquainted with Perry through a mutual friend, with the intention of obtaining ketamine as Perry's addiction spiraled out of control, authorities claimed.

According to court documents, Fleming and Sangha exchanged information about ketamine's cost and quantity via text messages.

"Fleming wrote to Perry's assistant in text messages, stating that he had just received the information from his source and that the person only deals with high-end clients and celebrities. If the information was not great, they would lose their business."

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, stated that Sangha's nickname was "appropriate" to include in the indictment. However, the West Coast Trial Lawyers founder argued that bringing it up now was merely a strategy to "win the public relations battle."

Rahmani added, "It's probably too late for that."

"If the probative value of the evidence is outweighed by its prejudicial effect, the defense may try to exclude it at trial," he explained. "It may come down to whether Sangha marketed herself as the ketamine queen. If so, it’s an admission of a defendant and will probably come in."

The ketamine problem in the U.S. has been brought to the forefront by Matthew Perry.

According to court documents, Sangha allegedly maintained a stash house in North Hollywood, California, where she manufactured, stored, and distributed controlled substances, including methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and ketamine, a Schedule III controlled substance.

On Oct. 28, Perry was killed by ketamine allegedly provided by Sangha and delivered to Iwamasa by Fleming.

At 8:30 a.m., Perry's assistant administered a shot of ketamine to the actor. By 12:45 p.m., Perry instructed Iwamasa to give him another injection while watching a movie. About 40 minutes later, Perry allegedly requested another injection, saying, "Shoot me up with a big one," according to the plea agreement.

While Perry was in a Jacuzzi, the live-in assistant administered a third injection. After leaving the home to run errands, Iwamasa returned to find Perry "face down" in the Jacuzzi, deceased.

According to an autopsy completed on Oct. 29, the acute effects of ketamine were the cause of Perry's death. Drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects were also listed as contributing factors.

Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen," was widely recognized for illegally supplying drugs to others, according to Eric Anderson, a former prosecutor and current attorney at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Anderson explained that being referred to as the "Ketamine Queen" is similar to being known as "Dr. FeelGood" or "The Candy Man," nicknames given to doctors involved in drug and steroid scandals of other times.

Jasveen Sangha, the accused, will have a harder time claiming ignorance of the victims' drug abuse because everyone knew the defendant would supply it.

"Sangha was well-known and reliable among the circle of those who abuse prescription drugs and enable users. She was the main source in this case, no different than being called the ‘King of Sales.’ The jury will be immediately informed that not only was she dealing medication, but that she was well known for it. In a case like this, where we deal with the abuse of prescription medication, the prosecution will paint a world within a world – one where the rich and famous go to certain people to get their drugs – and that world is small. The imagery will be that she was proud of the moniker and earned it."

WATCH: FIVE CHARGED, INCLUDING TWO DOCTORS, IN MATTHEW PERRY OVERDOSE

After Perry's demise, it is claimed that Sangha collaborated with Fleming and Iwamasa to conceal their role.

Immediately after learning of Perry's death, Fleming and Sangha tried to conceal their involvement by deleting digital evidence from their phones, according to court documents. During a call on Oct. 28, Sangha instructed Fleming to erase all text messages exchanged between them and updated Signal app settings to automatically delete messages.

On Oct. 30, two days after Perry's death, Fleming and Perry's personal assistant spoke on the phone. Iwamasa admitted to "cleaning up the scene" by removing syringes and ketamine vials, as per the plea agreement.

Iwamasa also claimed he had "deleted everything."

In March 2025, Sangha will go on trial after pleading not guilty to her accusations, while Fleming and Iwamasa have both accepted plea deals.

The use of nicknames as evidence in trials is allowed by courts, but only in the context of the case.

"If the defendant used or embraced the moniker, the court may allow prosecutors to present evidence of its use. However, the court will likely prevent the prosecutors from using the nickname excessively to inflame the jury's emotions or suggest that the defendant committed other uncharged crimes."

Nekritin stated that any references to the nickname will be detrimental to the defense, as there is a motive behind every nickname.