Story perspectives

Assistant Sentenced 41 Months for Ketamine-Related Perry Overdose

5/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Kenneth Iwamasa received a 41-month federal prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose.
Judge Sherilyn Garnett imposed two years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine, describing Iwamasa’s conduct as reckless, a judgment echoed by Perry’s parents as a betrayal.
Iwamasa, Perry’s $150,000-a-year live-in assistant, pleaded guilty in August 2024 and admitted repeatedly injecting the actor, including a lethal dose on Oct. 23 2023.

History

Historical Context

River Phoenix died of acute multiple drug intoxication outside The Viper Room on October 31 1993, just weeks after the club—co-owned by Johnny Depp—opened on August 14 1993. The tragedy marked the venue’s first high-profile overdose and contributed to its reputation for celebrity drug incidents, echoed later by Jason Donovan’s 1995 seizure and Michael Hutchence’s 1997 final performance.

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Story summary

Kenneth Iwamasa received a 41-month federal prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose.
Judge Sherilyn Garnett imposed two years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine, describing Iwamasa’s conduct as reckless, a judgment echoed by Perry’s parents as a betrayal.
Iwamasa, Perry’s $150,000-a-year live-in assistant, pleaded guilty in August 2024 and admitted repeatedly injecting the actor, including a lethal dose on Oct. 23 2023.

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