A drug addiction counselor with a license who provided Matthew Perry, the actor from the show “Friends,” with ketamine doses resulting in his death, has been sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a federal court in Los Angeles.
The sentenced individual, 56-year-old Erik Fleming, expressed deep regret to the judge before receiving the sentence, describing it as a never-ending nightmare. Fleming, dressed in a black suit, spoke solemnly at the podium, acknowledging the mistakes he had made.
Fleming, who was the fourth defendant sentenced among five who pleaded guilty in connection to Perry’s death in 2023, was responsible for connecting Perry to Jasveen Sangha, a convicted drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen.” Sangha was previously sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Fleming cooperated with investigators early on, leading to his guilty plea in August 2024 for distributing ketamine resulting in death. His cooperation earned him a reduced sentence, as he would have faced a longer prison term based on federal guidelines. Despite his assistance, prosecutors highlighted his role as a drug counselor who knowingly sold illegal drugs to a well-known individual battling addiction.
Perry, who was undergoing ketamine treatments for depression, sought additional drugs through Fleming due to limitations from his doctors. Fleming, a former producer turned counselor, obtained ketamine from Sangha, profited from the sales, and delivered it to Perry through his personal assistant. Tragically, Perry succumbed to the effects of ketamine and drowned after being injected with the drug from a batch supplied by Fleming.
Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who administered the fatal dose, is scheduled to be the final defendant sentenced in the case. Perry, renowned for his role as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” passed away at the age of 54. An upcoming auction of his belongings, including memorabilia from the show, will contribute to a foundation established in his honor posthumously.
