A federal judge has sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa, 61, to 41 months in prison for his involvement in obtaining and administering ketamine that resulted in the death of television actor Matthew Perry in October 2023.
The sentencing, delivered Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in Los Angeles, exceeded the federal guidelines of 30-37 months. Iwamasa had sought a significantly reduced sentence of six months incarceration followed by six months of home detention.
Iwamasa, who served as Perry’s live-in personal assistant, pleaded guilty in 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Court records reveal he administered multiple ketamine injections to the 54-year-old actor without any medical training, including several doses on October 28, 2023, the day Perry died.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Garnett emphasized the reckless nature of Iwamasa’s conduct, noting his awareness of Perry’s substance abuse struggles and the adverse reactions the actor had experienced from ketamine injections in the weeks preceding his death. The judge dismissed defense arguments that Iwamasa had been unable to refuse Perry’s demands, stating he was “unwilling, not unable” to deny the requests.
Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, addressed Iwamasa in court, expressing disappointment that the assistant had failed to contact family members when the actor began using drugs again, despite this being an expected responsibility. Morrison accused Iwamasa of prioritizing his lifestyle over Perry’s wellbeing.
Lisa Ferguson, Perry’s longtime business manager, delivered pointed criticism during the proceedings. She alleged that Iwamasa had influenced Perry to dismiss individuals who helped maintain his sobriety, including professional sober companions. Ferguson also claimed Iwamasa contacted a celebrity news outlet before notifying Perry’s family after discovering the actor unresponsive, and later sought three years of severance pay despite having worked as a personal assistant for only one year.
Iwamasa expressed remorse to the family members present, stating he was “horribly, horribly sorry” for his actions.
According to prosecutors, Iwamasa helped Perry obtain 71 vials of ketamine during the final two months of the actor’s life. Following Perry’s death, he cleaned the scene and initially misled police by claiming the actor had been self-administering the drugs.
The case represents the final sentencing among five defendants who pleaded guilty to charges related to supplying Perry with ketamine. The group included two doctors, a drug addiction counselor, and an individual referred to in court documents as the “Ketamine Queen,” all of whom have received prison sentences for their roles in the distribution network.
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the television series “Friends” during the 1990s, died from acute effects of ketamine at age 54. The actor had publicly discussed his struggles with substance abuse throughout his career and had undergone multiple treatment programs.
The sentencing highlights ongoing concerns about the misuse of ketamine, a controlled substance with legitimate medical applications that has increasingly appeared in illegal drug distribution networks. The case also underscores questions about the responsibilities of personal assistants and other support staff working with individuals struggling with addiction.
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