LOS ANGELES (AP) — Erik Fleming, a licensed drug addiction counselor, is slated to be sentenced on Wednesday for his role in the death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry, which resulted from the administration of ketamine. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 2 1/2 years for the 56-year-old Fleming, who is one of five individuals to have pleaded guilty in connection with the actor’s tragic passing in October 2023. Perry was found dead in the Jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home, and his death has been linked to the acute effects of ketamine, a drug originally used as an anesthetic.

Fleming's connection to Perry was significant; he was responsible for introducing the actor to Jasveen Sangha, a convicted drug dealer dubbed the “Ketamine Queen.” Sangha was sentenced to 15 years in prison last month. Defense attorneys for Fleming argue for a lighter sentence of three months in prison along with nine months in a residential drug treatment facility, claiming he has taken substantial steps to atone for his actions.

According to court documents, Fleming was the first to cooperate with investigators after Perry's death, quickly informing authorities about Sangha and pleading guilty in August 2024 to one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. This plea occurred even before the arrests related to the case were made public. On Wednesday, Fleming will appear for the first time in court since the details of his involvement became widely known, in front of U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett.

Prosecutors contend that while Fleming's cooperation should be acknowledged in his sentencing, his dual role as a drug counselor who "deliberately undertook to sell illegal street drugs to a victim who had a public, well-documented battle with drug addiction" should weigh heavily against him. Despite not being a regular client of Fleming’s, Perry's known struggles with addiction make the case particularly disturbing.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Perry, who had been using ketamine as an off-label treatment for depression, sought out more of the substance than he could receive legally from doctors. Seeking help, he reached out to a friend who was in a treatment facility, who then connected him with Fleming. A former film and television producer, Fleming had faced his own battles with addiction but had turned his life around to become a drug counselor. However, following the death of his beloved stepmother in 2023, he relapsed.

Fleming was known to procure ketamine from Sangha, inflate the price, and then deliver the drug to Perry’s residence, where it was sold to the actor’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. In a heartfelt letter to the court, Fleming expressed regret for his actions, stating, "I procured ketamine for Matthew Perry because I wanted the money and because I thought I was doing a favor for a friend. I never contemplated the worst possible outcome. This grievous failure will haunt me forever."

Just days before Perry's passing, Fleming delivered 25 vials of ketamine for $6,000. Iwamasa administered from that delivery on October 28, 2023, just hours before discovering Perry’s lifeless body. The subsequent medical examination confirmed that ketamine was the primary cause of death, with drowning cited as a secondary factor.

Though Fleming could face up to 25 years behind bars due to the nature of the charges, it is perceived that his actual sentence will be considerably less severe. His defense team highlighted the significant rehabilitation Fleming has reportedly undertaken since the incident. In his letter, he committed to facing his punishment with humility and dedicating his life to earning forgiveness.

As it stands, Iwamasa is set to be the last defendant facing sentencing in this case, slated to occur in two weeks. Matthew Perry, who passed away at the age of 54, had reached the pinnacle of stardom as Chandler Bing on NBC's influential sitcom "Friends," which aired from 1994 to 2004. Posthumously, an auction of Perry's memorabilia has been organized to benefit a foundation established in his name shortly after his death.