Kenneth Iwamasa, the personal assistant who gave Matthew Perry the ketamine injection that killed him, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison Wednesday.
Iwamasa, who had worked as Perry’s live-in assistant since 2022, also received two years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 assessment fee. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
The case centered on October 28, 2023, when Iwamasa discovered the 54-year-old “Friends” star unresponsive and face down in his hot tub. Federal prosecutors said Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine at the actor’s request before leaving to run errands. Iwamasa had known Perry since 1992.
U.S. Federal Judge Sherilyn Garnett handed down the sentence, which prosecutors had requested as a minimum. They argued Iwamasa directly administered the lethal dose.
With Iwamasa’s sentencing, the case involving Perry’s death now concludes with five defendants. Others implicated in distributing the drug include:
– Jasveen Sangha, known as the “ketamine queen,” who faces up to 65 years in prison
– Dr. Salvador Plasencia, sentenced to 30 months in December 2025
– Film director Erik Fleming, who pleaded guilty
– Dr. Mark Chavez, with sentencing expected in December
Perry’s death shocked Hollywood and reignited debates about ketamine abuse, addiction, and celebrity wellness. The actor had been vocal about his own substance abuse struggles and his commitment to recovery.
