Matthew Perry's Assistant Sentenced to 3 Years 5 Months for Drug Role

Washington DC. Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, the personal assistant who lived at the home of American actor Matthew Perry, was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in prison on Wednesday. The assistant played a major role in pushing the actor towards ketamine addiction and personally administered a fatal dose.

Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence in federal court in Los Angeles. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine. This sentence is the fifth and final ruling in the two-and-a-half-year investigation and prosecution process that began after Perry's death at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Garnett stated that Iwamasa was well aware of Perry's struggle with drug addiction and that his behavior was reckless not only on the day of the actor's death but also in the days prior. This sentence is equivalent to what the prosecution had requested. However, the judge disagreed with some details. The judge ruled that Iwamasa did not abuse a position of trust. If Iwamasa had been found to have abused a position of trust, he could have received a longer prison sentence.

“There is no concrete evidence that you acted with malicious intent, although some people may disagree,” she said. Iwamasa was constantly with Perry in the final days of his life. He provided the actor with drugs, brought him medication, and acted as an informal doctor. He was the last person to see the actor alive. He was also the one who found him dead in the home's jacuzzi.

He was the first to reach a deal with the prosecution. He pleaded guilty in August 2024 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute ketamine that led to death and subsequently became a key witness for the prosecution. Iwamasa's lawyer, Alan Eisner, had requested a sentence of six months in prison and an additional six months of home confinement. He argued that Iwamasa was merely following the instructions of a much more powerful boss.

“His top priority was loyalty to Perry,” Eisner told the judge, “He had immense respect for Perry, he idolized him. Everything he did was to please and help Perry.” When Eisner claimed that Iwamasa was incapable of acting differently, the judge interrupted, saying, “Not incapable, unwilling. He could have said ‘no’.”

In letters sent to the judge, Perry's family members clearly blamed Iwamasa the most. They believed that Iwamasa, a longtime friend, would help the actor stay away from drugs. However, they concluded that he further fueled a lifelong addiction.