Matthew Perry's Former Assistant Sentenced In Fatal Ketamine Case
On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa to 41 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in Matthew Perry's death.[1]
The sentence also includes two years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine.[1] Judge Garnett said Iwamasa was "privy" to Perry's struggle with addiction and called his conduct "reckless" in the days leading up to the death.[1] The judge added there was no hard evidence he acted with malicious intent and that he did not abuse a position of trust, a finding that limited the sentence.[1]
On Oct. 28, 2023, Perry was injected with ketamine and later found dead in a hot tub, according to the plea agreement prosecutors cited at sentencing.[1] Prosecutors say Iwamasa procured dozens of vials over several weeks and repeatedly injected Perry, including the dose that proved fatal, then left him in the hot tub.[2]
Iwamasa is the fifth and final defendant sentenced in the 2½-year federal probe into Perry's death, following prosecutions of Jasveen "Ketamine Queen" Sangha and others.[2] Perry's family read letters in court blaming Iwamasa more than anyone and called his behavior a heartbreaking betrayal of trust.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa to 41 months (three years, five months) in federal prison, plus two years of supervised release (probation) and a $10,000 fine.
- Judge Garnett told the court that Iwamasa was “privy” to Matthew Perry’s struggle with addiction and called his conduct “reckless” on Oct. 28, 2023 and in the days leading up to Perry’s death, but she found he did not abuse a position of trust and said there was “no hard evidence” of malicious intent — a finding that limited the sentence length.U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
- Defense attorney Alan Eisner had asked for six months in prison plus six months of home confinement, arguing Iwamasa was following the directions of a powerful boss he “worshipped,” but the judge rejected that request and said Iwamasa was “unwilling, not unable” to say no.
- According to the plea agreement cited by prosecutors, Iwamasa obtained and repeatedly injected Matthew Perry with ketamine, including the fatal dose on Oct. 28, 2023, and then left him in a hot tub where Perry was found dead.
- Prosecutors say Iwamasa procured dozens of vials of ketamine over several weeks and performed multiple injections on the day Perry died, a pattern detailed in the same plea agreement referenced at sentencing.
- Family letters and victim-impact statements quoted in court say they blame Iwamasa more than anyone for Perry’s death, describing him as a trusted “companion and guardian” who instead enabled Perry’s drug use; Perry’s sisters and mother accused him of leaving Perry in the hot tub and of betraying the family’s trust (letters from Matthew Perry's family).
- Iwamasa is the fifth and final defendant sentenced in the 2½‑year federal investigation into Perry’s Oct. 28, 2023 death; the prosecutions also included Jasveen “Ketamine Queen” Sangha (who received 15 years), Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez and broker Erik Fleming, among others (Jasveen "Ketamine Queen" Sangha).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
May 27, 2026
11:37 PM
Matthew Perry's assistant sentenced over ketamine injection
New information:
- CBS summarizes that Matthew Perry "drowned in his hot tub in 2023 under the effects of ketamine," reiterating the medical context of the death.
- The segment states that Perry's 54-year-old longtime personal assistant gave him the fatal ketamine injection and pleaded guilty to conspiracy, and that he was sentenced to "over three years" in prison, aligning with but not refining the already reported 41‑month term.
- Article does not add new numerical sentencing details, conditions, or additional defendants beyond what has already been reported in prior coverage.
10:51 PM
Matthew Perry's assistant sentenced to prison as family reveals heartbreaking betrayal
New information:
- Fox reports that Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, to 41 months (three years and five months) in federal prison and imposed a $10,000 fine.
- The article states that, according to the plea agreement cited by prosecutors, Iwamasa "obtained and repeatedly injected" Matthew Perry with ketamine, including the fatal dose on Oct. 28, 2023, and then left him in a hot tub where he died.
- Victim-impact statements from Perry's sisters Caitlin and Madeline Morrison describe Iwamasa as someone who "left him in a hot tub to die" and say that his account of the day of death was a lie and a profound betrayal.
- Madeline Morrison's statement says Iwamasa spoke at Perry's funeral and describes his behavior in the days after the death as "manic and unsettled," repeatedly offering his version of events.
- Perry's mother Suzanne wrote that Iwamasa's "most important job" was to be her son's companion and guardian in his fight against addiction and alleged that "when he had killed my son, he kept a sharp eye on me."
- The piece reiterates that Iwamasa is the fifth and final defendant sentenced in connection with Perry's death, alongside Jasveen "Ketamine Queen" Sangha, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez and broker Erik Fleming, but emphasizes Sangha received 15 years in prison.
- The article notes that Iwamasa procured dozens of vials of ketamine over several weeks and performed multiple injections on the day Perry died, according to the plea agreement.
7:38 PM
Matthew Perry's assistant gets 3 years, 5 months in prison for role in deadly ketamine injection
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa to three years and five months in federal prison, plus two years of probation and a $10,000 fine, for conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in Matthew Perry's death.
- Judge Garnett stated in court that Iwamasa was "privy" to Perry's struggle with addiction and called his conduct "reckless" not only on Oct. 28, 2023, the day Perry died, but also in the days leading up to his death.
- The judge found that Iwamasa did not abuse a position of trust for guideline purposes and said there was "no hard evidence" he acted with malicious intent, a finding that prevented a longer sentence.
- Defense attorney Alan Eisner asked for six months in prison plus six months of home confinement, arguing Iwamasa was following the directions of a powerful boss he "worshipped," but the judge rejected that request, emphasizing he was "unwilling, not unable" to say no.
- The article confirms this is the fifth and final sentencing arising from the 2½‑year federal investigation into Perry's October 28, 2023 death, marking the end of the prosecution phase.
- Letters from Matthew Perry's family to the court, quoted in the article, say they blame Iwamasa more than anyone for Perry's death and describe him as someone they trusted to be a 'companion and guardian' in Perry's fight against addiction who instead enabled his drug use.