Who Is Kenneth Iwamasa, Matthew Perry’s Live-In Personal Assistant Charged in His Death?

• Kenneth Iwamasa, Matthew Perry’s live-in personal assistant, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in the actor’s death.
• Iwamasa allegedly injected Perry with ketamine multiple times, including the day of his death on October 28, 2023, despite having no medical training.
• He worked with four other defendants, including two doctors and a drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen,” to illegally obtain and distribute ketamine to Perry.
• Iwamasa faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

Kenneth Iwamasa’s Role in Matthew Perry’s Death

Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, served as Matthew Perry’s live-in personal assistant.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Iwamasa played a key role in the events leading up to Perry’s death from a ketamine overdose on October 28, 2023. The indictment alleges that Iwamasa repeatedly administered the powerful anesthetic to Perry without any medical training or oversight.

Prosecutors claim that Iwamasa worked with four other individuals to illegally obtain and distribute ketamine to Perry over a two-month period in 2023.

The group allegedly exchanged around 20 vials of the drug for $55,000 in cash. Iwamasa is said to have communicated in coded language with the other defendants to coordinate the drug deals.

Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Ketamine

On August 15, 2024, Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. By pleading guilty, he acknowledged his role in the events that led to Perry’s tragic demise.

Prosecutors allege that Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine multiple times, including on the day of his death, despite being aware of the drug’s harmful effects.

Iwamasa’s plea deal could result in a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The other defendants charged in the case, including doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, as well as alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, face much harsher potential sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

Exploiting Perry’s Struggles with Addiction

According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, the defendants prioritized profit over Perry’s well-being, stating, “Defendant Plasencia saw this as an opportunity to profit off Mr. Perry. He wrote in a text message, ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay.’”

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram echoed this sentiment, noting that the desperation that led Perry to these individuals was not met with help but with exploitation.

Meanwhile, Chief Dominic Choi of the Los Angeles Police Department spoke about the importance of impartial justice, noting, “Breaking the law is breaking the law. And you are dangerous and you are jeopardizing lives.”