BBC
A drug addiction counsellor has been sentenced to two years in prison in connection with the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, according to reports from US media outlets.
Erik Fleming, aged 56, was one of five individuals charged following Perry's tragic death. He had obtained the surgical anaesthetic ketamine from a Los Angeles-based individual known as the "Ketamine Queen" and subsequently supplied it to the beloved Friends star. In August 2024, Fleming pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
In addition to the prison sentence, a federal judge ordered Fleming to undergo three years of supervised release and imposed a financial penalty of $200.
Matthew Perry was discovered deceased in his backyard jacuzzi in southern California in October 2023. The official cause of death was determined to be the acute effects of ketamine.
Prosecutors recommended a two-and-a-half-year prison term for Fleming, while his defence team argued for a much lighter sentence of three months in prison plus nine months in a residential drug treatment facility.
During his court appearance on Wednesday, Fleming expressed remorse, stating to Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, "It's truly a nightmare I can't wake up from. I'm haunted by the mistakes I made."
In a sentencing memorandum submitted prior to his court appearance, Fleming's attorneys noted his efforts to make amends for his actions. "I made the biggest mistake of my life, and I am so deeply sorry for the hurt I have caused," Fleming conveyed in a letter to the judge in April, prior to his sentencing.
Fleming reported feeling "overwhelmed with grief and shame" upon learning of Perry's death, noting that he had procured ketamine for Perry motivated by financial gain and the desire to assist a friend.
He acknowledged his "inexcusable behavior," affirming his complete accountability for his illicit actions. "I hope my sentence provides some measure of justice and peace for everyone who loved Matt," Fleming added.
Fleming is part of a group of five individuals, which includes medical professionals and Perry's assistant, accused of supplying ketamine to the actor and exploiting his addiction for monetary gain, ultimately leading to his overdose death.
As the fourth individual sentenced in this ongoing legal matter, Fleming has joined others who have also pleaded guilty in the federal case.
In the preceding month, Jasveen Sangha, 42, known as the "Ketamine Queen," received a sentence of 15 years in prison for her role in providing the drugs linked to Perry's death.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who also supplied ketamine to Perry in the weeks leading up to his demise, was sentenced in December to 30 months behind bars.
Similarly, Dr. Mark Chavez, a California physician who sold ketamine to Perry, received a sentence in December consisting of eight months of home detention along with three years of supervised release.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal live-in assistant, who faced charges for allegedly injecting Perry with ketamine, is set to be sentenced on May 27 after pleading guilty to a count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
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