Counselor Sentenced to Two Years for Ketamine Triage of Matthew Perry
Eric Fleming, a licensed drug‑addiction counselor, was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Wednesday for distributing ketamine that caused the death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. The sentencing occurred in a Los Angeles federal court before Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. Fleming was the fourth defendant to receive a conviction; he pleaded guilty on August 5, 2024, admitting one count of drug distribution resulting in death. Prosecutors sought 2½ years, while defense requested three months in prison and nine months in a treatment program. The judge imposed a two‑year term, citing Fleming’s role as a counselor who sold illegal ketamine to a person with a documented addiction history.
Fleming obtained the ketamine from Jasveen Sangha, a convicted drug dealer known as “The Ketamine Queen,” who was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison. In September 2023, Fleming delivered 25 vials worth $6,000 to Perry’s house, where the actor’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, administered the drug to Perry on October 28. Perry later died from the acute effects of ketamine; drowning was a secondary cause, according to the medical examiner.
The sentencing hearing was Fleming’s first public statement about his involvement. He expressed remorse and acknowledged the harm caused. Matthew Perry, 54, was a prominent television star best known for his role on “Friends.” His family did not speak to the media at the courthouse. The case remains part of a broader investigation into Perry’s death, with additional defendants scheduled for sentencing in the coming weeks.