Kenneth Iwamasa, the live-in personal assistant of late “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, was sentenced on Wednesday to three years and five months in federal prison for his role in the actor’s ketamine-related death. U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett delivered the sentence in a Los Angeles federal court, also imposing two years of probation and a $10,000 fine. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-year investigation into Perry’s death on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, a case that drew widespread public attention due to the actor’s global fame and long-documented struggles with addiction.

During the hearing, Judge Garnett criticized Iwamasa’s conduct in the days leading up to Perry’s death, stating that he had acted recklessly despite being fully aware of the actor’s battle with substance abuse. The court, however, stopped short of concluding that Iwamasa acted with malicious intent. Prosecutors had argued that Iwamasa enabled Perry’s escalating ketamine use by acting as his drug courier, caretaker, and the individual who administered repeated injections. According to court records, Iwamasa was the last person to see Perry alive and later discovered the actor unresponsive in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles residence.

Iwamasa became a central witness in the investigation after pleading guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. Prosecutors stated that Perry had legally received ketamine treatments for depression but later sought larger quantities than his physician was willing to provide. Court documents revealed that Iwamasa obtained ketamine through illegal channels, including from physician Salvador Plasencia, who allegedly taught him how to inject the drug. Plasencia was sentenced to two and a half years in prison earlier this year for his involvement in the distribution scheme connected to Perry’s death.

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The investigation further uncovered a wider illegal ketamine network involving multiple individuals. Authorities said Iwamasa also sourced ketamine through Perry acquaintance Erik Fleming, who allegedly purchased the substance from street dealer Jasveen Sangha, widely referred to in media reports as the “Ketamine Queen.” Fleming was sentenced to two years in prison, while Sangha received a 15-year sentence in April. Investigators stated that in the final days of Perry’s life, Iwamasa administered ketamine injections to the actor as many as six to eight times daily. On the day of Perry’s death, prosecutors alleged that Iwamasa injected him with a particularly strong dose before leaving the home to run errands.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner concluded that ketamine was the primary cause of Perry’s death, while drowning was listed as a secondary factor. Prosecutors also revealed that Iwamasa initially misled investigators by failing to disclose Perry’s ketamine use and omitting details regarding the injections he had administered. However, after federal authorities executed a search warrant in January 2024, he reportedly began cooperating fully with investigators and provided critical information that helped prosecutors build the broader case against other defendants involved in the illegal drug supply chain.

Matthew Perry rose to international fame through his role as Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom “Friends,” which aired from 1994 to 2004 and became one of television’s most successful comedy series. Alongside co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow, Perry became one of the most recognizable actors of his generation. His death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues worldwide while also reigniting discussions about addiction, mental health, and the dangers of prescription drug misuse within the entertainment industry.

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