Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, received a sentence of three years and five months in prison for his role in the actor’s death involving ketamine addiction. This decision concludes the legal proceedings following Perry’s passing at 54 on October 28, 2023.
The Case Against Iwamasa
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett stated Iwamasa’s actions were reckless before and during the day of Perry’s death. At age 60, Iwamasa faces prison time as the last to be sentenced from five individuals linked to the case. The group included doctors and a street dealer known as ‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha, who received a 15-year sentence. Iwamasa served as Perry’s enabler and informant in the investigation.
Debate Over Responsibility
The nearly three-hour hearing involved discussions about the assistant’s responsibility in a powerful person’s addiction. Iwamasa’s lawyer, Alan Eisner, argued that Iwamasa was loyal to Perry due to admiration. He requested a lighter sentence but acknowledged Perry’s role in his own demise. The judge interrupted this argument, asserting Iwamasa was unwilling, rather than unable, to act differently.
Family and Friends’ Reactions
Perry’s family expressed their anger, blaming Iwamasa for his death. Step-father Keith Morrison described feeling betrayed by someone perceived as family. Perry’s business manager, Lisa Ferguson, criticized Iwamasa, claiming he manipulated Perry’s addiction for personal gain. She accused him of deliberately isolating Perry.
“You were the monster that killed him.” – Lisa Ferguson
Iwamasa offered an apology but conveyed little outward remorse. His family attended the sentencing, supporting him.
Iwamasa’s Role and Aftermath
Perry hired Iwamasa in 2022, with a salary of $150,000 annually. Initially, Iwamasa lied to police and concealed ketamine use, but later admitted to conspiracy in distributing ketamine leading to Perry’s death. He accepted his role in August 2024, before public indictments, and faced intense media attention at the sentencing.
Iwamasa’s lawyer contested the sentence as disproportionate, emphasizing the imbalance of power in his relationship with Perry. Morrison stated that while justice served the sentencing, it did not alleviate his family’s loss. Judge Garnett found Iwamasa did not abuse a position of trust worthy of more time, nor did he financially benefit intentionally from the crime.
The sentence included a $10,000 fine and two years of probation. Iwamasa is required to report to prison in July.
Matthew Perry starred on NBC’s ‘Friends’ from 1994 to 2004, alongside notable co-stars in a widely successful television run.