A federal court in Los Angeles has sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa, the personal assistant to actor Matthew Perry, to 41 months in prison for charges related to the death of the “Friends” series star. Iwamasa admitted to repeatedly administering ketamine to Perry without possessing medical qualifications.
Matthew Perry was found dead in October 2023 at his residence in Los Angeles. Medical investigations determined the cause of death to be an acute reaction to ketamine, leading to drowning.
Prosecutors revealed that Iwamasa, in collaboration with two doctors, facilitated Perry’s access to ketamine before his death. The total expense of the acquired substance exceeded $50,000. In August 2024, Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine, which directly resulted in the actor’s death.
In addition to imprisonment, Iwamasa was sentenced to two years of supervision following release and fined $10,000. He is scheduled to commence his sentence on July 17. During the court hearing, Iwamasa publicly apologized to Perry’s family for his actions.
The presiding judge emphasized that Iwamasa was aware of Perry’s struggles with addiction but continued to supply him with ketamine, abandoned him after administering a potentially lethal dose, and attempted to conceal evidence and mislead authorities.
Statements from the actor’s family provided to the court included a letter from Perry’s mother, who noted Iwamasa’s responsibility to support her son in battling his addiction rather than enabling it. The defense attorney highlighted the power dynamic between Perry and Iwamasa, claiming Iwamasa could not refuse Perry’s directives.
Associated individuals in the case also faced legal consequences: addiction counselor Eric Fleming received a two-year prison sentence. In contrast, the “Ketamine Queen” was sentenced to 15 years for unlawful substance distribution.