Matthew Perry's Longtime Assistant Faces Up To 15 Years In Prison For Star's Death

The truth behind Matthew Perry's tragic death has finally been revealed, with his longtime assistant and close associates behind the crime.

The "Friends" star, per law enforcement, was taken advantage of by greedy people who chose to profit from his addictions instead of helping him. The fatal dose of ketamine that killed the actor was administered by his live-in assistant, Kenneth "Kenny" Iwamasa.

Matthew Perry reportedly worked with him for over 25 years before his ketamine-influenced death on October 28, 2023. Kenneth Iwamasa and the other culprits have since been arrested and charged.

Law enforcement revealed the heartbreaking truth behind Perry's demise on Thursday, August 15, at a press conference. US district attorney Martin Estrada confirmed the late actor relapsed from his substance abuse issues last fall thanks to five culprits.

The list included Iwamasa, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, co-conspirator Dr. Mark Chavez, the "Ketamine Queen" Jasveen Sangha, and an alleged street dealer named Erik Fleming. The culprits reportedly took advantage of Perry's addiction for profit.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia "worked with" Iwamasa, who lived in Perry's Los Angeles home, to "distribute" approximately 20 vials of ketamine to the entertainer for two months. However, the final blow came from his longtime assistant's hands.

The Department of Justice revealed in Thursday's press conference that Iwamasa "admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training." He also administered "multiple injections" on the day the entertainer died, per Page Six.

According to law enforcement, Iwamasa confessed to his crimes on August 7 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death. He faces a 15-year prison sentence for his part in the federal case.

Meanwhile, one of his co-conspirators, Dr. Plasencia, reportedly revealed himself as a man unworthy of his medical license. Despite working as an urgent care physician in Calabasas, California, he showed zero concern for Perry's life.

Instead, Dr. Plasencia was more interested in profiting from the late actor's addiction. One of his alleged texts read: "I wonder how much this moron will pay" and "Lets [sic] find out." Perry turned to ketamine to treat his anxiety and depression; however, he relapsed thanks to the excessive doses.

According to a close pal, Perry seemingly found comfort in ketamine therapy and became "so obsessed" with the drug that he wanted to start a business selling it. In their words:

"He was telling me this [ketamine] is fantastic. He wanted to go into business with this one guy in Glendale or somewhere in the Valley."

"Obviously, this guy was giving him as much as he wanted, and with an addict, you can't do that. It was terrible," the insider noted. This alleged pal of Perry's wasn't the only one to address the recent update in his case.

The Blast shared that the late entertainer's stepfather, Keith Morrison, addressed the breakthrough in Perry's case. He spoke on behalf of the family, praising law enforcers with the statement:

"We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew's death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously. We look forward to justice taking its course."

The investigation into Perry's death began in May over the high levels of ketamine found in his system. His autopsy also highlighted drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects as contributing factors to his death.

Authorities took the case seriously, with a senior law enforcement official claiming that more people would end up behind bars. In their words: "This is a very difficult case to piece together. What has happened today and will be announced…there will likely be more arrests later."

According to recent court documents, Perry's longtime assistant and the drug dealer involved in the case secured plea deals with prosecutors. Iwamasa and Fleming took the agreement to obtain reduced sentences.

As stated, Iwamasa faced up to 15 years behind bars, while Fleming had 25 years looming over him. However, by acknowledging responsibility and cooperating with the ongoing investigation, their punishment was lowered.

As authorities continue to track down everyone involved in Matthew Perry's death, his loved ones and fans can only hope justice prevails.