Matthew Perry’s Former Assistant Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison Over Actor’s Ketamine Death

Kenneth Iwamasa, the longtime personal assistant of late actor Matthew Perry, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in supplying and administering ketamine that contributed to the death of the “Friends” star in 2023.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in federal court in Los Angeles, concluding one of the final major proceedings in the criminal investigation into Perry’s death. Iwamasa had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. (Reuters)

Prosecutors Said Assistant Injected Perry Repeatedly

Federal prosecutors said Iwamasa, 60, played a central role in obtaining and injecting ketamine into Perry during the weeks leading up to the actor’s death.

According to court records, Iwamasa admitted that he repeatedly administered ketamine despite having no medical training. Prosecutors said he injected Perry multiple times on October 28, 2023 — the day the actor died at his Los Angeles home. Authorities said Perry was later found unresponsive in a hot tub. (Reuters)

An autopsy determined that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and other medical factors contributing to his death. Perry was 54 years old. (AP News)

Judge Calls Conduct “Reckless”

During sentencing, Judge Garnett criticized Iwamasa’s actions, saying he was fully aware of Perry’s long history of substance abuse and addiction struggles.

According to courtroom reports, the judge described Iwamasa’s behavior as reckless, particularly because he continued administering ketamine even after signs that Perry was experiencing adverse reactions. Prosecutors argued that Iwamasa became both an enabler and supplier during the actor’s final weeks. (Reuters)

In addition to the prison sentence, Iwamasa was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and will serve two years of supervised release after completing his prison term. (Reuters)

Perry’s Family Attends Sentencing

Several members of Perry’s family attended the sentencing hearing, including his mother, Suzanne Morrison, and stepfather, journalist Keith Morrison.

Family members submitted victim impact statements describing feelings of betrayal by someone they had trusted for years. Perry’s relatives said Iwamasa had been viewed as a close friend and caretaker before details of the ketamine distribution scheme became public. (People.com)

Outside the courthouse, Keith Morrison expressed anger over the circumstances surrounding Perry’s death and the actions of those who enabled his addiction. (People.com)

Five Defendants Convicted in Investigation

Iwamasa was one of five people charged in the federal investigation into Perry’s death.

The wider case uncovered a network involving doctors, intermediaries, and drug suppliers who provided ketamine to the actor. Authorities said Perry had initially received ketamine legally as part of treatment for depression but later sought larger quantities through illegal channels. (AP News)

Among the other defendants, alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha — known in court filings as the “Ketamine Queen” — received a 15-year prison sentence earlier this year. Former physician Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while physician Mark Chavez received home confinement. Another defendant, Erik Fleming, was sentenced to two years in prison. (AP News)

End of a Long Investigation

Federal authorities described Iwamasa as the first defendant to cooperate with prosecutors after Perry’s death. His guilty plea in 2024 helped investigators build cases against the other defendants involved in the ketamine distribution network. (ABC7 New York)

The sentencing marks the final major chapter in the nearly three-year federal investigation into the death of one of television’s most recognizable actors. Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom “Friends,” had spoken publicly for years about his struggles with addiction and recovery. (Wikipedia)