Ketamine middleman jailed for two years in Matthew Perry case

In a Los Angeles federal court, Erik Fleming, a licensed drug addiction counselor, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for distributing ketamine that contributed to the death of Matthew Perry in October 2023. Fleming, 56, was ordered to surrender within 45 days and will face three years of probation after his release.

Fleming played a pivotal role in connecting Perry with Jasveen Sangha, a convicted dealer prosecutors dubbed “The Ketamine Queen,” who was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison. Fleming became the first defendant to plead guilty in August 2024, admitting to one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He cooperated with investigators and, on the day authorities located Sangha at her sister’s house, provided key information that aided the investigation.

According to court filings and statements, Fleming’s cooperation helped prosecutors build a case against Sangha and others in the chain of distribution. While prosecutors acknowledged his assistance, they argued that the cooperation may have been motivated by self-preservation rather than remorse. Fleming’s attorney told the judge that his client “handed over the Ketamine Queen on a silver platter,” adding that investigators had no clue who she was before that day. Fleming’s sentencing guideline range would have been higher without his cooperation, but the court chose a two-year term.

The sentencing comes as the broader Perry case continues to unfold in the wake of his death, which occurred in Perry’s Los Angeles home. The court has already sentenced several co-defendants, with Sangha receiving a lengthy prison term. The outcome offers a measure of accountability in a case that drew intense public attention to the dangers of illicit ketamine distribution and the exploitation of individuals battling addiction.

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