Who is Kenny Iwamasa? Officials claim Matthew Perry's assistant who administered the fatal ketamine colluded with the doctor

Kenny Iwamasa, who was Matthew Perry's live-in longtime assistant, has pleaded guilty to injecting the late actor with a fatal dose of ketamine, eventually causing his death on October 28 last year.

The Department of Justice announced on Thursday, August 15, that Iwamasa also bought the illicit drugs from a supposed "master chef" on behalf of the beloved Friends star.

He had worked with Perry as his personal assistant since 1994, and with the recent update on the actor's death, Iwamasa could face up to 15 years in prison. In the press conference on Thursday, US district attorney Martin Estrada said:

"[Iwamasa and other "go-betweens"] took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves."

Estrada also said in the press conference that the investigation and arrest made in connection with Matthew Perry's death "revealed a broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine" to the late actor and other victims.

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Authorities detail a conspiracy involving Matthew Perry's assistant Kenny Iwamasa that led to the actor's death

During the press conference, the US district attorney further detailed the discovered conspiracy that involves Matthew Perry's live-in assistant, Kenny Iwamasa, and various "go-betweens."

Estrada said that the late actor, who had previously struggled with addiction issues, fell back to his old habits in the fall of 2023. He also added that the defendants "took advantage of this for themselves."

The official noted that Kenny Iwamasa, despite not having any medical training to speak of, repeatedly administered the ketamine injections to Perry, including on the day of his death.

In a dramatic twist of the investigation into Matthew Perry's death, the Department of Justice has also charged several other individuals in the supposed ketamine distribution ring.

Those included in the charges are Santa Monica doctor Salvador Plasencia and the North Hollywood "Ketamine Queen" Jasveen Sangha.

According to Estrada in the press conference, Plasencia conspired with another medical doctor, Mark Chavez, to obtain the ketamine and later worked with Iwamasa to provide Perry with the ketamine.

Between September to October 2023, they reportedly provided the late actor with 20 vials of illicit drug.

Erik Fleming, an alleged street dealer, was also implicated in connection with Matthew Perry's passing. As for Chavez, he has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to the one count of conspiracy related to ketamine distribution.

All the charges against Kenny Iwamasa, Dr. Plasencia, and Dr. Chavez stem from damning evidence uncovered during the investigation. It includes text messages between two doctors, revealing their scheming to illegally sell ketamine to Matthew Perry through Iwamasa.

As for the penalties the defendants are facing because of their conspiracy, Estrada said that it will be "very significant."

He also mentioned that Plasencia, who also faces other drug trafficking counts, could be facing a maximum of 120 years in federal prison. As for Sangha, she could be sentenced to life imprisonment if proven guilty.