Matthew Perry’s assistant set to be sentenced for injecting ketamine that killed ‘Friends’ actor

The sentencing of Matthew Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, is set to take place on Wednesday for administering the fatal dose of ketamine that led to the actor’s death in 2023. Iwamasa is one of five individuals charged and convicted in a conspiracy to illegally distribute ketamine to Perry. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death in August 2024 and could face up to 15 years in prison.

Prosecutors alleged that Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine multiple times without proper medical training, including the fatal dose on October 28, 2023. They claimed that Iwamasa, who was hired as Perry’s live-in personal assistant, enabled the actor’s drug addiction instead of helping him maintain sobriety. Despite clear warning signs of Perry being in danger, Iwamasa continued to inject him with illicit ketamine.

In the days leading up to Perry’s death, Iwamasa administered significant quantities of ketamine to the actor. On the day of the fatal overdose, Iwamasa injected Perry with two doses before Perry requested a larger dose. After administering the third dose, Iwamasa left to run errands for Perry and returned to find him dead in the jacuzzi.

Following Perry’s death, Iwamasa allegedly destroyed evidence and obstructed justice by cleaning up ketamine bottles and syringes from the scene and omitting ketamine from the list of Perry’s medications when questioned by authorities.

In response to the sentencing memo from prosecutors, Iwamasa’s defense attorneys argued that he did not abuse his position but acted at the victim’s direction. They claimed that multiple individuals were involved in the conspiracy to distribute drugs to Perry and that Iwamasa was not the sole facilitator.

Iwamasa had known Perry since 1992 before becoming his live-in assistant in 2022. He was responsible for Perry’s medical care and was paid $150,000 a year. Perry’s mother expressed in a victim impact statement that the family trusted Iwamasa to help Perry in his battle against addiction, but instead, he facilitated illegal drug use.

Iwamasa is the final defendant in the case to be sentenced for his role in illegally distributing ketamine to Perry. Other individuals involved in the conspiracy, including the “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha and Erik Fleming, have already been sentenced for their roles in the distribution of ketamine that led to Perry’s death. Additionally, two doctors involved in the case have also been sentenced for their part in the illegal distribution of ketamine to the actor.