A drug counselor who supplied ketamine to Friends star Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his tragic death has been sentenced to two years in federal prison.

Erik Fleming, 56, was one of five people charged in connection with the beloved actor’s overdose death in October 2023. He pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was sentenced on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett also ordered three years of supervised release and a $200 penalty.

A Nightmare He “Can’t Wake Up From”

Fleming sourced the powerful surgical anesthetic from a Los Angeles dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen” and provided it to Perry. In court, he expressed deep remorse, telling the judge:

“It’s truly a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I’m haunted by the mistakes I made.”

In a letter to the court, Fleming wrote that he was “overwhelmed with grief and shame” upon learning of Perry’s death. He admitted procuring the drug because he wanted money and thought he was doing a favor for a friend, calling his actions “inexcusable.”

Prosecutors had asked for a two-and-a-half-year sentence, while the defense pushed for significantly less time plus drug treatment.

Matthew Perry’s death shone a harsh light on the dangerous underground ketamine trade and how even high-profile individuals can fall victim to addiction and exploitation. Fleming is the fourth person sentenced in this case. The “Ketamine Queen,” Jasveen Sangha, received 15 years in prison last month, while two doctors involved received shorter sentences.

Perry, who had been open about his long battle with addiction, was found unresponsive in his backyard hot tub. The coroner ruled his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine.

Fleming’s sentencing closes another chapter in this heartbreaking saga, but it also raises uncomfortable questions about accountability in the world of celebrity drug access. While Fleming claims he is taking full responsibility, his actions contributed to the loss of a beloved entertainer who had finally seemed to be turning a corner in his personal struggles.

The final defendant — Perry’s live-in assistant — is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.