Former Assistant Sentenced for Role in Matthew Perry's Death

Kenneth Iwamasa Sentenced

Kenneth Iwamasa, who previously served as the personal assistant to Matthew Perry, known for his role in "Friends," has been sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison due to his involvement in the actor's tragic death. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett also imposed a fine of $10,000 and mandated that Iwamasa report to authorities by noon on July 17. At 59 years old, he is the last of five individuals charged in connection with Perry's passing on October 28, 2023.

Details of the Case

In August 2024, Iwamasa pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute ketamine that resulted in death. He confessed to administering multiple injections of ketamine to Perry, despite lacking any medical qualifications, including several doses on the day of the actor's death. Perry, aged 54, was discovered face down in his hot tub at his residence in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, and was declared dead at the scene. An investigation later confirmed that he succumbed to an accidental overdose of ketamine. Prior to his death, Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression, but prosecutors indicated that he had developed a dependency on the substance and sought additional doses through illicit means.

Impact on Perry's Family

The sentence handed to Iwamasa was significantly less than what Perry's half-sister, Madeline Morrison, had advocated for. In her victim impact statement, she expressed that Iwamasa warranted a more severe punishment than Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen," who received a 15-year sentence for her role in supplying the drugs that contributed to Perry's death. Morrison highlighted a critical question raised by Judge Garnett during Sangha's sentencing regarding accountability: who is more culpable, the dealer or the assistant who injected the fatal dose and left? Morrison was particularly affected by the fact that Iwamasa had spoken at Perry's funeral, stating, "The person responsible for my brother's death stood up and addressed the people who loved him most."

Other Sentences in the Case

Iwamasa was part of a larger conspiracy, as prosecutors revealed that he collaborated with Sangha and three other individuals to illegally supply ketamine to Perry. The sentences for the other conspirators illustrate a broader network that contributed to the actor's addiction. Earlier this month, Eric Fleming, a licensed drug counselor, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for selling Perry the fatal ketamine. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to selling Perry ketamine prior to his death, received a two-and-a-half-year sentence in December. Dr. Mark Chavez, another individual involved, was sentenced to eight months of home detention and three years of supervised release last year. With Iwamasa's sentencing concluded, the legal ramifications of Matthew Perry's death have reached a close, although the sorrow felt by his loved ones continues.