Full Breakdown
Kenneth Iwamasa Sentenced for Role in Matthew Perry’s Fatal Ketamine Overdose
5/29/2026, 5:53:32 AM
Sentencing
On May 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Kenneth Iwamasa, former live-in personal assistant to actor Matthew Perry, to 41 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. Iwamasa had pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
Background to the Overdose
Matthew Perry was found face-down in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on Oct 28, 2023. He had been using ketamine for depression. Iwamasa, hired in 2022 at an annual salary of $150,000, became Perry’s primary caretaker and supplied the drug.
Timeline
- 2022 – Hired as Perry’s live-in assistant.
- Sept 30 2023 – Met Dr. Salvador Plascia, who supplied ketamine, taught injection technique, and injected Perry in a car on Oct 10.
- Oct 23-28 2023 – Iwamasa administered multiple ketamine injections daily, including a large dose in the jacuzzi on Oct 28; after a Jan 2024 search warrant he began cooperating with investigators.
- May 27 2026 – Iwamasa sentenced.
Data & Statistics
Iwamasa earned $150,000 annually and spent roughly $55,000 on ketamine from Dr. Plascia. He administered injections per day in the final days. The sentence includes 41 months, a $10,000 fine, and two years supervised release.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors called Iwamasa “the enabler and drug supplier” and sought 41-month term. Defense attorney Alan Eisner argued he was “unwilling, not unable” to refuse. Judge Garnett called his conduct reckless, noted no proof of malicious intent, and imposed the sentence.
Criticism & Opposition
Members called Iwamasa a “man without a conscience.” Suzanne Morrison said his primary job was to guard her son’s addiction. Keith Morrison accused him of “keeping injecting him with more.” Madeline Morrison called his funeral speech a “cruel joke,” and Lisa Ferguson called him “the monster who killed him.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on quantities, citing 20 vials for $50,000 and 50 vials for $11,000. Iwamasa’s age is reported as 60 or 61. Sentence descriptions vary between “three years and five months” and “41 months.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “You kept injecting him with more,” Keith Morrison said.
- “What you are is the monster who killed him,” Lisa Ferguson said.
- “The person responsible for my brother's death stood up and addressed the people who loved him most,” Madeline Morrison wrote.
- “Your conduct was reckless, not just on the day of his death, but on the days leading up to his death,” Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said.
Why It Matters & What’s Next
The sentencing ends the prosecution of five defendants linked to Perry’s death and highlights risks of off-label ketamine use and non-medical caregivers. Iwamasa will report to a federal facility on July 17, 2026. The case may affect oversight of ketamine distribution and the duties of personal staff.
