Federal prosecutors have accused Matthew Perry‘s former assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, of trying to conceal evidence tied to the ketamine investigation following the actor’s death.
Court filings allege he helped dispose of drugs, delete records, and mislead investigators, while later saying he “cleaned up the scene” on a phone call.
As he seeks leniency ahead of sentencing, Kenneth Iwamasa argues he couldn’t refuse Matthew Perry during his addiction struggles, citing a complex dependency dynamic.
Matthew Perry’s Former Assistant Allegedly Tried To Conceal Evidence After Death
Federal prosecutors claim Perry’s former live-in assistant, Iwamasa, attempted to cover up evidence linked to the ketamine investigation after the actor passed away.
According to newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, prosecutors allege Iwamasa took several steps to conceal evidence after the “Friends” star died, including instructing another individual to dispose of ketamine-related materials and erase potential records tied to the case.
The filing claims Iwamasa initially misled investigators about events surrounding Perry’s death, allegedly failing to disclose that he had administered multiple ketamine injections to the actor on the same day.
Prosecutors say he falsely suggested Perry had hidden ketamine containers himself. Authorities further allege that Iwamasa directed a person identified in the documents as “B.M.” to throw away ketamine vials and syringes after Perry’s death.
Prosecutors also claim he arranged for the destruction of a ketamine prescription document and a handwritten note that reportedly connected Dr. Salvador Plasencia to the supply of the drug.
Kenneth Iwamasa Allegedly Admitted He ‘Cleaned Up The Scene’ On A Phone Call After The Actor’s Death
According to the filing, investigators also referenced a crucial phone conversation between Iwamasa and alleged middleman Erik Fleming.
They claim Iwamasa admitted he “cleaned up the scene,” deleting records, disposing of bottles and syringes, and changing passwords on Perry’s electronic devices.
Prosecutors have strongly rejected arguments suggesting Iwamasa was merely carrying out instructions.
Instead, they claim that he violated the trust placed in him by both Perry and the actor’s family during the actor’s struggles with addiction.
Matthew Perry’s Former Assistant Seeks Leniency, Citing Pressure In Drug Case
The accusations come as Iwamasa seeks leniency ahead of his sentencing this week, arguing in separate court filings that he felt unable to “simply say no” to Perry when the actor requested ketamine.
In the documents, Iwamasa reportedly acknowledged that the relationship dynamic between them led to “tragic consequences.”
He argued that he “acted at all relevant times at [Perry’s] direction rather than pursuant to his own discretion,” while his attorney claimed the longtime employment relationship made him particularly vulnerable to “more readily participate in the conspiracy to distribute drugs to the victim than a man on the street.”
Iwamasa’s legal team further argued that portraying the situation as something he could have easily walked away from ignores “his particular vulnerability to the relationship dynamic” he had with Perry.
The Late Actor’s Mother Delivered An Emotional Statement As His Former Assistant Faces Sentencing
The plea for leniency comes shortly after Perry’s mother, Suzanne Perry, delivered a powerful victim impact statement criticizing Iwamasa’s actions following her son’s death.
In the statement, Suzanne claimed the family had trusted Iwamasa for more than 25 years and believed his most important responsibility was to support and protect Perry throughout his addiction battle. Instead, she alleged he “aided and abetted” the actor’s substance abuse rather than helping him overcome it.
According to Page Six, she also criticized Iwamasa’s behavior at Perry’s funeral, accusing him of portraying himself “as if he was somehow the good guy who tried to save Matthew.”
Suzanne further alleged that after her son’s death, Iwamasa “kept a sharp eye on” her and the family. “We trusted Kenny,” she said in the statement, adding that Perry “paid the price” for trusting “a man without a conscience.”
Iwamasa previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death as part of a federal plea agreement. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking a 41-month prison sentence ahead of his sentencing hearing this week.
Matthew Perry Ketamine Case: Sentences Handed Down As Key Defendants Face Justice
Iwamasa was among five individuals charged in connection with the death of Perry following a wider federal investigation into the illegal distribution of ketamine.
According to the Department of Justice, Iwamasa was accused of working alongside Jasveen Sangha, Fleming, and Dr. Plasencia to illegally obtain and distribute ketamine to the “Friends” star.
Several of the defendants have since pleaded guilty to various charges tied to the case. Sangha received a 15-year prison sentence in April after pleading guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises, multiple counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Meanwhile, Dr. Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison in December 2025. Dr. Mark Chavez, who admitted to helping supply ketamine to Plasencia, was sentenced to eight months of home detention followed by three years of supervised release.