Matthew Perry’s addiction counsellor jailed for supplying the star with drugs

A licensed drug addiction counsellor has been sentenced to two years in prison for supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his death.

Erik Fleming, 56, was sentenced by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday (local time). Before sentencing, Fleming told the court: “It’s truly a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I’m haunted by the mistakes I made.”

Fleming is the fourth of five defendants to be sentenced after pleading guilty in connection with the Friends star’s death.

Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in October 2023.

A medical examiner ruled he died from the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning listed as a contributing factor.

The actor, who was best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the American sitcom, had been open about his struggle with alcohol and substance abuse before his death.

While Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion treatment for depression, a medical examiner ruled that the amount of the drug found in his body at the time of death could not be attributed to the treatment alone.

Court filings show Fleming linked Perry to Jasveen Sangha, a drug dealer prosecutors nicknamed “The Ketamine Queen”, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in April.

Fleming, a former film and television producer who later became a drug counsellor after overcoming his own addiction, admitted to supplying ketamine to Perry.

Prosecutors said he obtained the drug from Sangha, marked up the price, and delivered it to Perry’s home, where the actor’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa - who is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks - administered it.

In total, Fleming distributed 51 vials of ketamine to Perry in October 2023, including the dose believed to have contributed to his death.

He pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death and was the first defendant in the case to do so.

Prosecutors said he would likely have faced a sentence of about four years under federal guidelines, but received a reduced term because of his cooperation with investigators.

In a letter to the court, Fleming said he acted out of financial motive and poor judgment, writing: “I procured ketamine for Matthew Perry because I wanted the money and because I thought I was doing a favour for a friend. I never contemplated the worst possible outcome. This grievous failure will haunt me forever.”

He added: “To Matt’s family, I am very sorry for my inexcusable behaviour in this case.”

Dr Salvador Plasencia, who illegally supplied ketamine to Perry, received a two-and-a-half-year sentence.

Dr Mark Chavez, who admitted to selling ketamine to Plasencia, was sentenced to eight months of home confinement.

- The Telegraph

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