Kenneth Iwamasa, the former personal assistant to actor Matthew Perry, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in providing the actor with a fatal dose of ketamine. According to multiple reports, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett noted Iwamasa's knowledge of Perry's addiction and his failure to intervene as key factors in her decision.
Key Takeaways
Kenneth Iwamasa, Matthew Perry’s former assistant, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for providing the actor with a fatal dose of ketamine. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett cited Iwamasa's knowledge of Perry's addiction and failure to intervene as key factors. Prosecutors accused Iwamasa of destroying evidence related to Perry's drug use.
- Kenneth Iwamasa sentenced to 41 months in prison for role in Matthew Perry’s death
- Judge cites Iwamasa’s awareness of Perry’s addiction and failure to act
- Prosecutors allege Iwamasa destroyed evidence after Perry’s death
Iwamasa pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. During the sentencing hearing, he expressed deep remorse, stating, 'I'm so sorry to all of you. I'm just so sorry to have done illegal acts that I will forever regret.' According to CBS News and Sky News, Iwamasa was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and serve two years of probation.
Matthew Perry was found dead in his backyard hot tub on October 28, 2023. An autopsy report concluded that the cause of death was the 'acute effects of ketamine', combined with other factors such as drowning and coronary artery disease. Prosecutors stated that Iwamasa administered ketamine to Perry multiple times without medical training or safe equipment.
According to Reuters, Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather, criticized Iwamasa for failing to raise the alarm about Perry's addiction and continuing to live in the star's home. The judge emphasized that Iwamasa was aware of Perry's struggle with addiction and chose not to take steps to help him. According to HuffPost, Iwamasa’s lawyers argued that he could not 'simply say no' to Perry's requests for ketamine, highlighting his role as an enabler.
New allegations from federal prosecutors suggest that Iwamasa sought to destroy evidence of Perry's drug use shortly after the actor's death. According to a filing reviewed by TMZ and reported by Daily Mail, Iwamasa allegedly instructed others to dispose of physical evidence, including ketamine vials and syringes, as well as digital records related to Perry’s drug network. Prosecutors claim that Iwamasa changed Perry's digital passwords and deleted files from computers in an attempt to cover up the extent of the actor's substance abuse.
Perry’s sisters, Caitlin and Madeline Morrison, submitted statements critical of Iwamasa ahead of his sentencing. Madeline Morrison described feeling a profound sense of betrayal upon learning about Iwamasa's actions, stating that his behavior tainted their final memories of saying goodbye to Perry. Caitlin Morrison expressed no sympathy for Iwamasa, questioning whether the lethal dose of ketamine was administered intentionally or by accident.
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