Matthew Perry's assistant gets 41 months in prison in actor's death case

Kenneth Iwamasa, a live-in assistant to “Friends” star Matthew Perry, has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison for his role in the actor’s ketamine-related death, closing a major chapter in the criminal investigation into the Hollywood actor’s 2023 death.

Iwamasa was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death, according to the Associated Press. Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom “Friends,” died at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023.

“You were privy to his struggle with addiction,” Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett told the 60-year-old at sentencing. “Your conduct was reckless not only on the day of his death but also in the days leading up to his death.

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The last person to see Matthew Perry alive

Investigators said Iwamasa was constantly by Perry’s side during the actor’s final days. Prosecutors described him as a middleman who acted as a drug courier and even gave Perry ketamine injections.

He was also the last person to see the actor alive and later found him dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.

The verdict marked the final verdict among the five people who pleaded guilty in the wider investigation into Perry’s death. Among them was alleged ketamine dealer Jasveen Sangha, often referred to by prosecutors as the “Queen of Ketamine,” who received 15 years in prison.

During the nearly three-hour hearing, the courtroom heard emotional statements from Perry’s family members, business partners and lawyers, many of whom blamed Iwamasa for enabling the actor’s relapse and addiction.

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Courtroom Debate on Liability

Iwamasa’s attorney, Alan Eisner, argued that his client was deeply loyal to Perry and acted under the influence of the actor’s authority and dependence.

“His loyalty to Mr. Perry was paramount,” Eisner told the court. “He worshiped Mr. Perry, he looked up to Mr. Perry. All he did was please and please Mr. Perry.”

The defense asked for a lighter sentence of six months in prison followed by six months of house arrest.

“Mr. Perry was not without fault,” Eisner added. “No one likes to hear that.”

But Judge Garnett pushed back strongly when the defense suggested Iwamasa had no choice.

“He didn’t want to. He couldn’t. He could have said no,” the judge said.

The family says that trust has been broken

Perry’s family gave emotional statements in court, saying they believe Iwamasa failed someone they trusted to protect him.

Perry’s stepfather, veteran “Dateline” journalist Keith Morrison, said the family once considered Iwamasa part of their inner circle.

“We really felt like he was part of the family,” Morrison said. “We trusted him unconditionally.

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Turning directly to Iwamasa, Morrison added, “You gave the injections. You could have called. But you didn’t. Because you lived the life of a dandy.”

“You controlled one of the most famous people in the world,” he said.

Perry’s longtime business manager and real estate executor, Lisa Ferguson, delivered one of the harshest statements in court. She accused Iwamasa of isolating Perry from sober companions and doctors in order to maintain her influence over the actor.

“What you are is the monster that killed him,” Ferguson said.

She also claimed that he showed “not an ounce of guilt or remorse” after Perry’s death.

“Matthew deserved to live,” she said. “You don’t.”

The assistant apologizes in court

Iwamasa addressed Perry’s family and supporters as he delivered his testimony in court.

“I’m terribly, terribly sorry and my condolences,” he said. “I am so sorry that I did these illegal acts that I will regret forever.

Reports said he showed little visible reaction when the punishment was announced. His father and brother were present in the courtroom.

Authorities revealed that Iwamasa initially lied to investigators and removed evidence of ketamine use after Perry’s death. However, he later cooperated with investigators after a search warrant was executed at Perry’s home in January 2024.

In August of that year, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and became one of the key informants in the investigation.

Sentence details

Judge Garnett ultimately imposed the exact prison sentence that prosecutors sought — 41 months behind bars. However, she stopped short of concluding that Iwamasa had abused a formal position of trust.

“There is no clear evidence that you acted with malice, although some would disagree,” the judge told him.

In addition to the prison sentence, Iwamasa was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and serve two years of probation. He was ordered to surrender to prison authorities on July 17.

Matthew Perry rose to global fame alongside Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow on the iconic NBC sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. His death caused widespread grief among fans around the world and renewed conversations about addiction and celebrity culture.