A drug addiction counsellor who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to the actor’s fatal overdose has been sentenced to two years in federal prison in Los Angeles.
Erik Fleming, 56, pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious injury. On Wednesday (13 May), U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced him to 24 months behind bars, along with three years of supervised release.
Fleming was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment fee and surrender to authorities by noon on 29 June to begin serving his sentence.
Speaking in court, Fleming expressed remorse for his role in Perry’s death.
“I’m haunted by the mistakes I’ve made,” he told the judge. “If there was a way to bring him back, I would have done it. I’m mortified I played any role in the death of another person, especially someone as beloved as Mr Perry.”
Federal prosecutors argued that Fleming knowingly took advantage of Perry’s well-documented history of addiction for financial gain.
According to court documents, Fleming reached out to Perry in 2023 after hearing through a mutual acquaintance that the actor was seeking ketamine. Prosecutors said Fleming sold 51 vials of liquid ketamine to Perry in October 2023, including the batch linked to the actor’s death.
“Despite knowing the risks and dangers of selling the drugs, defendant brokered multiple drug transactions that ultimately killed Mr Perry,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo.
Fleming sourced the ketamine from Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles drug dealer prosecutors nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen”, before selling it to Perry through the actor’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.
One delivery reportedly included 25 vials of ketamine worth $6,000 just four days before Perry died.
Perry was found unresponsive in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home on 28 October, 2023, at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accidental ketamine overdose, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine also contributing factors.
Although Judge Garnett said Fleming was not as directly responsible as Dr Salvador Plasencia who personally administered ketamine injections to Perry, she stated that he was “not a whole lot less” culpable.
Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of two and a half years in prison followed by supervised release, arguing Fleming ignored clear “warning signs of drug-seeking behaviour”.
His defence lawyers sought a lighter punishment of three months in prison and placement in a residential drug treatment programme, citing his cooperation with investigators and efforts at rehabilitation.
In a letter to the court, Fleming admitted he was overwhelmed with guilt after learning of Perry’s death.
“I felt overwhelmed with grief and shame when I found out Matthew Perry died,” he wrote. “I knew what I had done.”
Fleming became the first defendant in the investigation to plead guilty and later cooperated with authorities by providing information about others involved in the drug distribution network.
His lawyer argued that he played a crucial role in helping investigators identify Sangha, whose operation prosecutors said supplied ketamine to Perry and other clients.
Authorities acknowledged that Fleming’s cooperation helped advance the investigation, contributing to a reduced sentence under federal guidelines.
Last month, Sangha was sentenced to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release for supplying the drugs connected to Perry’s death.
Two doctors were also convicted in connection with the case. Dr Salvador Plasencia received a 30-month prison sentence, while Dr Mark Chavez was sentenced to eight months of home detention and three years of supervised release.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, is expected to be the final defendant sentenced later this month.
Matthew Perry became one of television’s most recognisable stars through his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, the hugely popular sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004 and gained a massive global following.
Beyond his acting career, Perry was open for years about his struggles with addiction and spoke candidly about his experiences with rehabilitation and recovery. In later years, he focused on helping others facing substance abuse issues and said he hoped to be remembered not only for “Friends”, but also for supporting people battling addiction.
Following his death in October 2023, tributes poured in from fans, friends, and former co-stars across the entertainment industry. A foundation established in his name now supports addiction recovery initiatives and mental health awareness efforts.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be...
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's...
Spain booked their place in the World Cup final with a composed 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday, ending the hopes of the tournament favourites and ...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Spain booked their place in the World Cup final with a composed 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday, ending the hopes of the tournament favourites and moving within one match of a second World Cup title.
One person has died and two others remain missing after a triple-deck pontoon boat carrying 19 people capsized near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claims it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
An overnight fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has killed at least 30 people and injured 70 others, making it one of the deadliest pub disasters in the Thai capital in recent years. Authorities say the venue quickly filled with thick smoke, trapping patrons inside.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 14th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known internationally for his role in 'Jurassic Park', died suddenly on Monday aged 78 after recovering from cancer, his family said.
Uzbekistan has approved a new film rebate programme offering foreign productions up to 4 billion soums (around U.S.$315,000) in reimbursement as it seeks to attract international filmmakers and boost tourism through cinema.
More than 100 countries now spend more on servicing debt than on education, UNESCO has warned, as it called on governments and international lenders to expand the use of debt-for-education swaps.
The Welsh rock singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for the global hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75 in Portugal.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is set to become one of 2026’s biggest films, bringing Homer’s ancient epic to life with a $250 million budget. From real ships and thousands of extras to heated debates over casting choices, here are 10 facts about the ambitious adaptation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment