Drug Counselor Who Supplied Ketamine to Matthew Perry Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

A tragic link in the chain leading to the actor’s death culminates in a federal sentence, raising urgent questions on ethics, addiction, and accountability

On May 13, 2026, Erik Fleming, a licensed drug addiction counselor, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for supplying the ketamine that resulted in Matthew Perry’s 2023 death. His sentencing underscores both the moral breach of professionals in addiction treatment and the broader implications for ketamine’s off‑label use and regulation.

The Sentence and the Man at Its Center

On May 13, 2026, a federal judge in Los Angeles, Sherilyn Peace Garnett, sentenced 56‑year‑old Erik Fleming to two years in prison, followed by three years of probation, for his role in supplying ketamine that led to Matthew Perry’s death in October 2023 . Fleming, who had been free on bond for approximately two years, was ordered to surrender within 45 days .

A Counselor’s Fall from Trust

Fleming, a certified drug addiction counselor and former producer, admitted in his plea agreement (entered in August 2024) to distributing ketamine that resulted in death and conspiring to do so . Prosecutors detailed that he purchased ketamine from Jasveen Sangha—dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”—and delivered 50‑51 vials to Perry’s personal assistant, including 25 vials sold for $6,000 just four days before Perry’s death .