Matthew Perry's drug supplier handed prison sentence over actor’s ketamine death
Erik Fleming, the drug addiction counsellor who supplied fatal doses of ketamine to Friends star Matthew Perry, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison.
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence at a Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday, also ordering three years of supervised release and a $200 (£147) penalty.
The 56-year-old, who has remained free on bond for nearly two years, must surrender within 45 days to begin serving his sentence.
Before sentencing, Mr Fleming addressed the court, stating: “It's truly a nightmare I can't wake up from. I'm haunted by the mistakes I made.”
He is the fourth of five defendants to receive a sentence following guilty pleas connected to Mr Perry’s death in October 2023.
Mr Fleming played a crucial role in linking Mr Perry to Jasveen Sangha, a convicted dealer whom prosecutors labelled The Ketamine Queen.
Ms Sangha received a 15-year prison sentence last month.
The counsellor obtained the drug from Ms Sangha, increased the price for profit, and transported it to Mr Perry’s residence, where he sold it to the actor’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.
Just four days before Mr Perry’s death, Mr Fleming delivered 25 vials of ketamine costing $6,000 (£4,400).
On October 28, 2023, Mr Iwamasa administered injections from that batch to Mr Perry.
Hours later, he discovered the actor dead in the jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home.
A medical examiner determined that Mr Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning listed as a contributing factor.
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Mr Fleming cooperated extensively with investigators, providing information about Ms Sangha on the same day authorities tracked him down at his sister’s home, where he had been staying in the months following Mr Perry’s death.
His solicitor, Robert Dugdale, told the court Mr Fleming had “handed over the Ketamine Queen on a silver platter", adding: “They didn't have a clue who she was before that day.”
In August 2024, Mr Fleming became the first defendant to enter a guilty plea, admitting to one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, even before any arrests were publicly announced.
However, prosecutors challenged his motives.
Assistant US Attorney Ian Yanniello argued: “Mr Fleming didn't cooperate because he had a benevolent motive, or because he wanted justice for Mr Perry. He wanted to save himself.”
Mr Fleming expressed deep remorse in court, saying his regret “can't compare to the agony I've caused” to Mr Perry’s family and friends.
His defence team highlighted significant rehabilitation efforts, including 20 months of sobriety and involvement in establishing a sober living facility.
A former film and television producer, Mr Fleming’s career had been devastated by addiction before he became sober and retrained as a drug counsellor.
According to his lawyers, Mr Perry relapsed following the 2023 death of his stepmother, who had helped rescue him from a difficult childhood.
Mr Perry, who died aged 54, rose to global fame portraying Chandler Bing in the NBC sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004.
Mr Iwamasa, the final defendant, is scheduled for sentencing in a fortnight.
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