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Assistant sentenced in Matthew Perry's ketamine overdose case
Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, received a 41-month prison term on Wednesday for conspiring to distribute ketamine that led to the Friends star's death in October 2023. He will also serve two years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine.
Background of the case
Iwamasa, Perry's live-in personal assistant, admitted to injecting the actor with ketamine multiple times, including on the day he died. Prosecutors stated Iwamasa, who had no medical training, worked with two doctors to supply Perry with over $50,000 worth of the drug in the weeks before his death.
Perry was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles hot tub on October 28, 2023. Medical officials ruled the cause of death as the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning listed as a contributing factor.
Courtroom statements and family reactions
During sentencing, Iwamasa addressed Perry's family, expressing remorse. "I'm so sorry to all of you. I'm just so sorry to have done illegal acts that I will forever regret," he said. "I hope I'll be a cautionary tale to someone who's in my position to make better choices."
Perry's family submitted letters to the judge ahead of the sentencing. His sister Caitlin Morrison wrote, "I have no sympathy for Kenny Iwamasa," accusing him of abandoning Perry in a vulnerable state. Another sister, Madeline Morrison, called Iwamasa "more culpable" than one of the drug suppliers.
Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, emphasized that Iwamasa's primary duty was to protect her son in his battle with addiction. "We trusted a man without a conscience, and my son paid the price," she wrote.
Judge's ruling and defense arguments
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett highlighted Iwamasa's awareness of Perry's addiction and his efforts to conceal evidence after the actor's death. "You were privy to his trouble with addiction," she told him. "You knew he should not have used ketamine at the amount he did."
Iwamasa's attorney, Alan Eisner, argued that Perry held agency over his decisions and that Iwamasa was "incapable" of refusing his employer's demands. "This is not an incident that falls solely on the shoulders of Mr. Iwamasa," Eisner said outside the courtroom.
Other defendants in the case
Iwamasa was the last of five defendants to be sentenced in connection with Perry's death. All pleaded guilty to charges related to supplying ketamine to the actor.
- Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen," received a 15-year prison sentence in April for her role in supplying the drugs.
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in prison in December for providing ketamine to Perry.
- Dr. Mark Chavez received an eight-month home detention sentence and three years of supervised release in December.
- Erik Fleming, who sourced ketamine from Sangha, was sentenced earlier this month to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $200 fine.
Prosecutors described the group as exploiting Perry's addiction for profit, leading to his fatal overdose.
