A Los Angeles court has handed down a 41-month prison sentence to Kenneth Iwamasa, the personal assistant of actor Matthew Perry, for supplying the ketamine that led to Perry’s death in October 2023. The sentence, delivered on Friday, marks a rare instance of a drug supplier being held criminally liable for a high-profile overdose in the entertainment industry.
Iwamasa, 57, admitted to injecting Perry with multiple doses of ketamine on the day of his death, including a final dose that proved fatal. The actor was found unconscious in his hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home. Prosecutors argued that Iwamasa had acted with “gross negligence,” ignoring clear signs of Perry’s escalating dependency and failing to seek medical help.
“This was not a simple case of addiction,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martinez. “It was a betrayal of trust by someone in a position of care. Mr. Iwamasa knew the risks, yet he continued to supply a dangerous drug to a man struggling with substance abuse.”
The case has reignited debates about the role of enablers in celebrity drug deaths. Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom “Friends,” had been open about his long battle with addiction, including a near-fatal opioid addiction in 2018. At the time of his death, he was undergoing ketamine therapy for depression under a doctor’s supervision. But Iwamasa, who had no medical license, sourced the drug illegally and administered it without oversight.
“This is a tragedy that could have been avoided,” said Perry’s family in a statement read by their lawyer. “We hope this sentence sends a message that those who profit from addiction will face consequences.”
Iwamasa’s defense lawyer, however, painted a different picture, arguing that his client was himself a victim of Perry’s fame and demands. “Kenny was a loyal friend who tried his best to manage Matthew’s unpredictable behaviour,” said Beth Wilkinson. “He was caught in a toxic dynamic, and the addiction claimed two lives that day.”
The sentence is one of the longest imposed in a celebrity overdose case in recent years. It follows a wave of federal prosecutions targeting drug suppliers in high-profile deaths, including those of rapper Mac Miller and actor Michael K. Williams. Advocates for drug policy reform argue that such cases focus on low-level dealers while leaving pharmaceutical companies and doctors unscathed.
“This is a performative punishment,” said Dr. Lisa Turner, a researcher at the Drug Policy Alliance. “The real problem is the unregulated market for ketamine, which is being prescribed irresponsibly by some doctors. Jailing an assistant won’t save lives.”
Perry’s death has already prompted changes in California law. In June 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring stricter oversight of ketamine prescribing and mandatory reporting of adverse events. The law was backed by the Perry family and mental health advocates.
As Iwamasa was led away in handcuffs, he turned to Perry’s family in the courtroom and said, “I’m sorry. I loved him.” His voice was barely audible above the hum of the court’s ventilation system. His expression was unreadable, but his shoulders sagged as the bailiff guided him through the side door.
Outside the courthouse, a small crowd of Perry fans held a vigil. Some carried signs reading “Justice for Matthew” and “Addiction is not a crime.” They fell silent as the news of the sentence spread through their phones, the blue glow of screens illuminating their faces in the fading California light.
Iwamasa will serve his time at a federal prison in Victorville, California. He is eligible for release in 2028.
