Another major development has emerged in the investigation surrounding Matthew Perry’s tragic overdose death.
Erik Fleming, one of the five people charged in connection with the late actor’s ketamine supply chain, has officially been sentenced to prison.
The latest ruling comes as authorities continue cracking down on everyone tied to the drug distribution network that prosecutors say contributed to Perry’s death in 2023.
Matthew Perry’s Death Investigation Leads To New Sentence
Erik Fleming was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison on Wednesday, May 13, along with three years of supervised release.
The former television director and acquaintance of Matthew Perry previously pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Perry died on Oct. 28, 2023, at his Pacific Palisades home. The beloved “Friends” actor was 54 years old.
Following his death, an autopsy concluded that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine.
Other contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication commonly used to treat opioid addiction.
According to prosecutors, Fleming admitted that he supplied ketamine connected to Perry’s death after allegedly obtaining it from Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors referred to as the “Ketamine Queen.”
Authorities also said Fleming distributed 50 vials of ketamine to Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.
Court records later revealed that after news of Perry’s death broke publicly, Sangha allegedly sent Fleming a message that read, “Delete all our messages.”
Matthew Perry Case Exposed Larger Drug Network
Federal and local investigators launched a deeper probe shortly after Perry’s death in an effort to uncover where the ketamine originated.
The investigation eventually led to the arrests of Fleming, Sangha, Iwamasa, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and San Diego physician Mark Chavez in August 2024.
All five later pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case.
At the time, then-U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada strongly criticized those involved.
“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” Estrada said in a 2024 press release.
He added, “Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”
The sentencing of Fleming follows other punishments already handed down in the case.
In April, Sangha received a 15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to multiple ketamine distribution charges, including one count tied to death or serious bodily injury.
Meanwhile, Dr. Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison in December 2025. Chavez received eight months of home detention along with three years of supervised release.
Perry Struggled With Addiction Before Death
As more court documents surfaced during the investigation, additional details emerged about Matthew Perry’s condition in the weeks leading up to his death.
According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, the actor had reportedly developed a severe ketamine addiction shortly before he died.
Records claimed Perry was injecting the drug between six and eight times per day during that period.
The revelations shocked many fans who had followed Perry’s long and highly public battle with addiction throughout his life and career.
For years, Perry openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse, both during and after his run on “Friends.”
In 2022, he released his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” where he detailed the painful realities of addiction, recovery, and fame.
His honesty about those experiences earned praise from readers and fellow actors alike.
Still, news surrounding the criminal investigation into his death has continued casting a heartbreaking shadow over the final chapter of the actor’s life.
Lisa Kudrow Reflects On Watching Matthew Perry Again
While the legal fallout surrounding Perry’s death continues unfolding, his former co-stars have also been speaking publicly about their grief.
Recently, Lisa Kudrow admitted she started watching “Friends” again after Perry’s death and found herself seeing the sitcom differently.
“After Matthew died, I watched the show again,” Kudrow told The Times. “Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better. But for the first time, I truly appreciated just how great it was.”
Kudrow also praised the cast members she worked beside for a decade.
She noted, “I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew, he was just beyond us all.”
Although Perry and Kudrow’s characters often argued on screen, the pair reportedly shared a close friendship in real life.
Kudrow later wrote the foreword for Perry’s memoir and admitted she did not fully understand the depth of his addiction struggles while they were filming the series together.
‘Friends’ Legacy Feels Different After Perry’s Death
For Lisa Kudrow, revisiting the iconic sitcom now carries a much heavier emotional weight.
She admitted that Matthew Perry’s performance as Chandler Bing stands out even more after his passing.
“Because there was a genius at work,” Kudrow said while reflecting on Perry’s comedic talent. “And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again.”