Kenneth Iwamasa, Matthew Perry's former personal assistant, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison in Los Angeles for obtaining and injecting ketamine into the actor, including on the day of his death in October 2023. The 61-year-old was also fined $10,000. He had pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death or serious injury.
An assistant who became a central player in the drama
Employed as a personal assistant at Matthew Perry's home, Kenneth Iwamasa was responsible for his daily care, including managing certain aspects of his medical treatment. However, he was neither a doctor nor a healthcare professional. The investigation revealed that he had repeatedly administered ketamine to Perry, without medical training, despite being aware of Perry's addiction problems.
In the weeks leading up to the actor's death, Iwamasa purchased 51 vials of ketamine in eleven days. The drug came from a network involving several people, including middleman Erik Fleming and Jasveen Sangha, nicknamed the "Ketamine Queen." On October 28, 2023, the day Matthew Perry died, Iwamasa administered at least three injections.
Warnings ignored before the actor's death
The court documents describe a rapid escalation. Before his death, the assistant had already seen Matthew Perry in concerning situations following ketamine injections. He had found him unconscious on at least two occasions and had witnessed an acute reaction after a large dose, during which the actor was unable to speak or move. Despite these warning signs, the injections continued.
After the actor's death, Iwamasa initially failed to mention ketamine when questioned about Matthew Perry's medications. He also concealed the injections administered on the day of Perry's death and removed items related to ketamine use, including vials and syringes.
Five people convicted in the case
Kenneth Iwamasa is the fifth and final person convicted in this case. Jasveen Sangha was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in selling ketamine that contributed to the death of Matthew Perry and another person. Erik Fleming, who acted as an intermediary, received a two-year prison sentence.
Two doctors were also sanctioned. Salvador Plasencia, who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry and his assistant, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Mark Chavez, a former doctor in San Diego, was sentenced to eight months of house arrest, 300 hours of community service, and three years of probation. Both surrendered their medical licenses.
A star marked by her addictions
Matthew Perry, known worldwide for his role as Chandler Bing in the series FriendsHe died at the age of 54 at his home in Los Angeles. He had publicly discussed his years of addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs, notably in his memoirs. At the time of his death, he was also undergoing supervised treatment involving ketamine, which is legally used in certain medical protocols, but the investigation revealed that he subsequently turned to illicit sources to obtain additional doses.
