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- Drug counselor who delivered the fatal dose of ketamine to actor Matthew Perry is up for sentencing (apnews.com)
LOS ANGELES – Erik Fleming, a licensed drug addiction counselor linked to the tragic death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry, is scheduled to be sentenced this Wednesday. Prosecutors are recommending a 2½-year prison term for Fleming, who was one of five individuals to plead guilty in connection with Perry’s 2023 death at his Los Angeles home.
Fleming played a key role by connecting Perry to Jasveen Sangha, dubbed “The Ketamine Queen” by prosecutors, who was sentenced last month to 15 years behind bars for her involvement in the case. Defense attorneys, however, are seeking a more lenient sentence: three months in prison followed by nine months in a residential drug treatment program. They argue that Fleming has made significant efforts to atone for his actions.
In August 2024, Fleming became the first defendant to plead guilty, admitting to distribution of ketamine resulting in death, even before the rest of the arrests were publicly announced. His sentencing will take place in the federal courtroom of Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, marking his first public court appearance related to the case.
Prosecutors acknowledge Fleming’s cooperation but stress that, as a drug counselor, he knowingly provided illegal drugs to Perry, who had a well-documented struggle with addiction. Perry had been receiving ketamine treatments for depression, a therapy increasingly used off-label.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Perry sought more ketamine than his doctors could prescribe and was introduced to Fleming by a friend. Fleming, a former film and television producer whose career was derailed by addiction, had become sober and a counselor but relapsed after losing a beloved stepmother in 2023. He obtained ketamine from Sangha, marked up the price, and supplied it to Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, at Perry’s home.
Fleming expressed remorse in a letter to the court, admitting he procured ketamine for Perry both for financial gain and as a favor, never anticipating the fatal outcome. Just days before Perry’s death, Fleming delivered 25 vials of ketamine for $6,000.
On October 28, 2023, Iwamasa administered ketamine from that batch to Perry, who was later found dead. The medical examiner ruled that Perry died from acute ketamine effects, with drowning noted as a secondary cause.
While Fleming faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years, such a lengthy term is considered unlikely. His attorneys highlight his ongoing rehabilitation, quoting Fleming’s vow to accept punishment humbly and dedicate his life to seeking forgiveness.
The final sentencing in the case will come when Iwamasa appears in court in two weeks.
Matthew Perry, who passed away at 54, was celebrated worldwide for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom “Friends,” which aired from 1994 to 2004. Following his death, an auction of his memorabilia, including “Friends” items, has been organized to support a foundation established in his honor.