Kenneth Iwamasa sentenced to 41 months for Matthew Perry ketamine death
Synopsis
The last of five defendants charged in Matthew Perry's ketamine death has been sentenced. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal assistant, received 41 months in prison after admitting he injected the actor repeatedly — including three times on the day he died. His courtroom apology to Perry's family was the final act of a case that exposed the dark underside of celebrity drug dependency.
Key Takeaways
Kenneth Iwamasa , Matthew Perry's personal assistant, was sentenced to 41 months in prison on 28 May 2025 .
He was also ordered to pay fines totalling $10,100 and serve two years of supervised release.
Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry with ketamine three times on the day he died , including a final large dose at Perry's own request.
Matthew Perry died on 28 October 2023 ; his death was ruled the result of the acute effects of ketamine .
Iwamasa was the last of five defendants to be sentenced in the case and must surrender by 17 July .
He apologised directly to Perry's family in court, including Perry's mother Suzanne and her husband Keith Morrison .
Kenneth Iwamasa, the personal assistant to late Hollywood actor Matthew Perry, was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, for his role in Perry's death from a ketamine overdose. A federal judge also ordered Iwamasa to pay fines totalling $10,100 and serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.
The Sentence and Court Proceedings
Iwamasa was the last of five defendants charged in connection with Perry's death to be sentenced. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. His attorneys had sought a far lighter sentence of six months in prison combined with six months of home confinement, while prosecutors successfully argued for the full 41-month term and three years of supervised release. He must surrender to authorities by 17 July to begin serving his sentence.
What Iwamasa Admitted
As part of his plea agreement, Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry 'repeatedly' in the days leading up to his death, including three times on the day Perry died. According to the plea agreement, after Perry had already received two doses of ketamine that day, he asked Iwamasa to 'shoot me up with a big one'. Iwamasa then left Perry's Los Angeles, California home to run errands. When he returned, Perry was found face down in his jacuzzi.
Matthew Perry's Death
Matthew Perry died on 28 October 2023. His death was officially ruled the result of the acute effects of ketamine. Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the long-running sitcom Friends, was 54 years old at the time of his death. The investigation that followed led to charges against five individuals, including Iwamasa and two doctors who allegedly supplied the drug.
Iwamasa's Apology in Court
Following sentencing, Iwamasa stood before Perry's family and friends in the courtroom — including Perry's mother, Suzanne, and her husband, Keith Morrison — and delivered a direct apology. 'I'm so sorry to all of you,' he said. 'You all know how much Matthew loved you. I'm so sorry to have done illegal acts. I will forever regret it and I will take it to my grave and be a cautionary tale and make better choices than I did. I'm horribly, horribly sorry and I offer my condolences to you.'
Broader Context of the Case
The Perry case drew widespread attention to the dangers of unregulated ketamine use, a drug that has gained traction as an off-label treatment for depression. Prosecutors argued that those around Perry exploited his vulnerability and addiction history. The sentencing of Iwamasa closes the final chapter of the criminal proceedings, though questions about accountability and the broader misuse of ketamine in celebrity circles are likely to persist.
Point of View
Reflecting the court's acknowledgement that Perry's own request for a final dose complicates the moral calculus. What the case ultimately lays bare is systemic failure: an assistant with no medical training was repeatedly sourcing and administering a controlled anaesthetic to a vulnerable man, with no intervention from anyone in Perry's circle. The criminal proceedings are now closed, but the uncomfortable question — why those closest to Perry did not seek help sooner — has no courtroom answer.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kenneth Iwamasa and what was he convicted of?
Kenneth Iwamasa was the personal assistant to actor Matthew Perry. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, admitting he injected Perry repeatedly in the days before the actor died on 28 October 2023.
How long is Kenneth Iwamasa's prison sentence?
Iwamasa was sentenced to 41 months in prison, along with fines totalling $10,100 and two years of supervised release. He must surrender to authorities by 17 July to begin his sentence.
How did Matthew Perry die?
Matthew Perry died on 28 October 2023 at his Los Angeles home. His death was officially ruled the result of the acute effects of ketamine. He was found face down in his jacuzzi after Iwamasa had left the residence to run errands.
Were others charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death?
Yes. Iwamasa was one of five defendants charged in connection with Perry's death. He was the last of the five to be sentenced, closing the criminal proceedings in the case.
What did Iwamasa say to Perry's family in court?
Standing before Perry's mother Suzanne and her husband Keith Morrison, Iwamasa said: 'I'm so sorry to all of you. I'm so sorry to have done illegal acts. I will forever regret it and I will take it to my grave.' He described himself as a 'cautionary tale' and offered his condolences.
