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Former addiction counselor sentenced to two years in prison for role in Matthew Perry’s death
Matthew Perry poses at a photocall for "The End Of Longing", at The Playhouse Theatre, on Feb. 8, 2016 in London, England.
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David M. Benett
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Topline:
Erik Fleming, a former drug addiction counselor, was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the overdose death of Friends actor Matthew Perry. He will also have to pay a $200 fine and be under supervision for three years following his prison sentence.
What we know: Fleming pleaded guilty to two felony counts — conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Fleming sold 51 vials of ketamine to Perry, knowing the actor’s struggles with drug use, according to court documents.
Background: Perry died in October 2023 in his Los Angeles home. The L.A. County medical examiner determined the cause was “acute effects of ketamine.” According to the plea agreement, Fleming worked with Sangha to distribute ketamine to Perry. On Oct. 28, 2023, Perry's personal assistant injected the actor with at least three shots of ketamine provided by Fleming.
Fleming said: In a letter to the court, Fleming wrote, “As a certified drug counselor and addict, I knew it was illegal and wrong to distribute black market drugs. I had met Matt a few times and knew about his struggles with substance abuse. I should never have agreed to acquire ketamine for Matt.”
Who else was involved? Fleming is the fourth defendant sentenced in Perry’s overdose death. For their roles in Perry’s death, San Diego physician Mark Chavez was sentenced to eight months of house arrest, along with community service, and Santa Monica-based doctor Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Jasveen Sangha, also known as the “Ketamine Queen,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
What’s next? Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, is scheduled for sentencing later this month.
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