A drug addiction counselor with a valid license, responsible for providing ketamine doses to Matthew Perry that led to his death, has been sentenced to a two-year prison term by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a federal court in Los Angeles. The defendant, 56-year-old Erik Fleming, expressed his remorse to the judge before the sentencing, acknowledging the gravity of his actions. Fleming, attired in a black suit, delivered his statement with a solemn tone at the podium.
Erik Fleming is the fourth individual among five who have pleaded guilty in connection with the actor’s tragic death in 2023 at his Los Angeles residence. Fleming facilitated the connection between Perry and Jasveen Sangha, a convicted drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen,” who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Following his cooperation with investigators upon contact, Fleming was the first to plead guilty in August 2024 to one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death. As a result of his cooperation, he received a reduced sentence, avoiding a potential four-year prison term under federal sentencing guidelines.
While Fleming’s assistance was noted by prosecutors for a possible lighter sentence, they emphasized his role as a drug counselor who knowingly supplied illegal drugs to a victim struggling with addiction, despite Perry not being a regular client. Defense attorneys had requested a three-month prison sentence and nine months in a residential drug treatment facility, highlighting Fleming’s efforts to make amends for his actions.
Perry had been undergoing ketamine treatments for depression, a common off-label use, and had sought additional ketamine through a friend due to unmet needs from doctors. The friend introduced Perry to Fleming, a former producer turned drug counselor with a history of addiction struggles. Fleming obtained ketamine from Sangha, marked up the price, and delivered it to Perry’s residence, where it was sold to Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.
Tragically, Perry died after using ketamine procured by Fleming, with the medical examiner attributing his death to the acute effects of ketamine with drowning as a secondary cause. Iwamasa, the actor’s assistant, is scheduled to be the final defendant sentenced in the case in two weeks.
Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the popular sitcom “Friends,” passed away at the age of 54. An auction of his belongings, including memorabilia from the show, will benefit the foundation established in his honor posthumously.