Last updated: May 28, 2026
Kenneth Iwamasa, the personal assistant to the late Friends star Matthew Perry, was sentenced on May 27, 2026 to 41 months (3 years and 5 months) in federal prison for his role in the actor’s ketamine overdose death in October 2023. The sentencing marks the end of a 2.5-year federal investigation that resulted in five convictions.
Who Is Kenneth Iwamasa?
Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, was Matthew Perry’s live-in personal assistant for many years. He was trusted by the Perry family to support the actor during his long, well-documented battle with addiction. Iwamasa had no medical training, yet in the final weeks of Perry’s life he had begun administering ketamine injections to the actor at his request — a task taught to him by Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the other defendants in the case.
Far from being a peripheral figure, Iwamasa was described by prosecutors as making nearly all of the illegal drug purchases on Perry’s behalf. In the final days of Perry’s life, Iwamasa was injecting the actor six to eight times per day.
Matthew Perry’s Death: What Happened
Matthew Perry, 54, was found dead on October 28, 2023, floating face down in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home in Los Angeles. An autopsy concluded that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, which combined with other factors to cause him to lose consciousness and drown.
On the day Perry died, Iwamasa injected him with a large dose of ketamine and left to run errands. When he returned, he found the actor dead. Investigators later found that Iwamasa had initially lied about his role and attempted to destroy evidence — before eventually becoming the government’s most important cooperating witness after reaching a plea deal in August 2024.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death, a federal felony. His cooperation was credited with helping prosecutors convict all four other defendants in the case.
Sentencing Details and the Judge’s Statement
US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Iwamasa on May 27, 2026 in a Los Angeles federal courtroom. The sentence was 41 months in federal prison, two years of probation, and a $10,000 fine — significantly below the maximum of up to 15 years that Iwamasa could have faced.
Judge Garnett acknowledged there was “no hard evidence that you acted with malicious intent, though some would disagree,” but stated clearly that “your conduct was reckless, not just on the day of his death but in the days leading up to his death.”
When Iwamasa’s defense attorney argued his client was unable to refuse Perry’s requests, the judge corrected him pointedly: “Unwilling. Not unable. He could have said no.”
The reduced sentence reflected Iwamasa’s cooperation with federal prosecutors, which they acknowledged had been critical to the success of the broader investigation.
Perry’s Family Reaction
The Perry family submitted victim impact statements before the sentencing, and their words expressed deep betrayal. Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, wrote that Iwamasa’s most important role was to be her son’s “companion and guardian in his fight against addiction.” Her statement concluded: “We trusted a man without a conscience, and my son paid the price.”
Morrison also revealed that Iwamasa had spoken at Perry’s funeral while concealing his role in the actor’s death, portraying himself as someone who had tried to help. Perry’s sisters Madeline and Caitlin Morrison also submitted victim impact letters to the court.
All Five Defendants: Case Summary
Iwamasa’s sentencing on May 27, 2026 was the fifth and final sentencing in the federal case. Here is how each defendant was sentenced:
- Jasveen Sangha (nicknamed “The Ketamine Queen”) — The drug dealer who supplied ketamine in large quantities. Sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, the longest of the five.
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia — A physician who supplied ketamine and taught Iwamasa to administer injections. Sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison.
- Erik Fleming — A go-between in the drug supply chain. Sentenced to 2 years in federal prison.
- Fifth defendant — Received 8 months of home confinement, the lightest outcome of the five.
- Kenneth Iwamasa — Perry’s personal assistant who administered the fatal injections. Sentenced to 41 months in federal prison.
What Federal Prison Means for Iwamasa
Because Iwamasa was convicted of a federal felony — conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death — he will serve his sentence in the US federal prison system, overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). This is separate from the state prison system, which handles violations of state law.
Federal prisons range from minimum-security “camps” to high-security penitentiaries. Given the non-violent nature of Iwamasa’s offense, his cooperation with the government, his age (60), and the absence of a prior criminal record, he would likely be designated to a low or minimum-security federal facility. The BOP makes facility designations based on a combination of security scoring, program availability, and proximity to family.
Under the federal good time credit system, inmates serving more than one year can earn up to 54 days of good conduct time per year. This means Iwamasa could realistically serve around 35 months rather than the full 41. Additionally, the Bureau of Prisons operates the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which can grant eligible inmates up to a 12-month sentence reduction — though qualification depends on BOP assessment.
Learn more about how the US federal prison system works in our guides on US prison types and facilities and life inside US prisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Kenneth Iwamasa’s prison sentence?
Kenneth Iwamasa was sentenced to 41 months (3 years and 5 months) in federal prison, plus 2 years of probation and a $10,000 fine. With federal good time credits, he may serve approximately 35 months of actual prison time.
What did Kenneth Iwamasa plead guilty to?
Iwamasa pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death — a federal drug charge. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to cooperate fully with federal prosecutors, and his testimony was central to the convictions of all other defendants in the case.
Why did Iwamasa get a lighter sentence than the drug dealer?
Jasveen Sangha, the drug dealer nicknamed “The Ketamine Queen,” received 15 years — nearly four times Iwamasa’s sentence. The gap reflects two factors: the greater culpability of someone running a drug distribution operation for profit, and the significant sentencing reduction Iwamasa received for his cooperation with federal prosecutors, which helped secure convictions against all other defendants.
Is the Matthew Perry death case now fully closed?
Yes. Iwamasa’s sentencing on May 27, 2026 was the fifth and final sentencing in the federal case. All five defendants have now been convicted and sentenced, concluding the 2.5-year federal investigation into Matthew Perry’s death.
Which federal prison will Kenneth Iwamasa go to?
The specific facility has not yet been publicly announced. The Federal Bureau of Prisons designates inmates to facilities based on security level requirements, proximity to family, medical needs, and available programming. Given his age, first-time offender status, and cooperation with the government, Iwamasa would likely be placed in a low or minimum-security federal facility, potentially somewhere in the Western United States.