A licensed drug addiction counsellor has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in the ketamine overdose death of Matthew Perry, as prosecutors continue dismantling what authorities described as an underground Hollywood drug distribution network.
Erik Fleming, 56, was sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised probation during proceedings in Los Angeles federal court. US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence after Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
Perry, widely known for portraying Chandler Bing in the television sitcom Friends, died on 28 October 2023 at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later ruled his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and other medical conditions listed as contributing factors.
Prosecutors Describe Fleming as Key Middleman
Federal prosecutors said Fleming acted as an intermediary between drug suppliers and Perry’s inner circle, using his knowledge of addiction recovery to profit from the actor’s substance dependency.
According to court filings, Fleming purchased ketamine from a North Hollywood dealer before reselling the drugs at inflated prices. Authorities said he personally delivered multiple batches of ketamine to Perry’s residence in the weeks leading up to the actor’s death.
Investigators stated that Fleming supplied a final shipment of 25 vials of ketamine for approximately $6,000 just four days before Perry died.
Although Fleming was not serving as Perry’s personal counsellor at the time, prosecutors argued that his professional background as a licensed addiction specialist made his conduct particularly exploitative.
“The defendant abused a position of trust and knowingly profited from another person’s addiction,” prosecutors said during sentencing arguments, according to court reporting from Los Angeles media outlets.
Personal Assistant Administered Fatal Doses
Court documents revealed that Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, repeatedly injected Perry with ketamine despite lacking medical training.
Authorities said Iwamasa administered the fatal doses on the day Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.
Iwamasa has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for 27 May 2026.
Federal investigators allege that multiple individuals connected to the case exploited Perry’s longstanding struggles with addiction by supplying him with illegally obtained ketamine outside legitimate medical supervision.
Wider Hollywood Drug Network Investigation
Fleming is the fourth of five defendants sentenced in connection with the broader investigation.
Among the most prominent defendants is Jasveen Sangha, described by prosecutors as a high-volume drug dealer operating out of North Hollywood. Authorities accused Sangha of supplying the fatal ketamine batch linked to Perry’s death. She was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
Another defendant, Salvador Plasencia, received a 30-month prison sentence after admitting to illegally distributing ketamine to Perry. Prosecutors said Plasencia mocked Perry’s addiction in private text messages while continuing to supply the drug.
Mark Chavez, a San Diego doctor accused of helping divert ketamine supplies through fraudulent means, received eight months of home confinement and three years of probation.
The investigation has intensified scrutiny over ketamine misuse in Hollywood and raised broader concerns about addiction treatment oversight, celebrity drug access, and underground distribution networks operating within the entertainment industry.
Federal prosecutors said the case demonstrates the dangers of illicit ketamine distribution and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals struggling with addiction.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, US Department of Justice
Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
Date: May 14, 2026
Tags: Matthew Perry, Ketamine Overdose, Erik Fleming, Hollywood Drug Network, Friends, Los Angeles Federal Court, USA News
News by The Vagabond News.
