Los Angeles: Kenneth Iwamasa, the live-in personal assistant of late “Friends” star Matthew Perry, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison on Wednesday for his central role in the actor’s ketamine overdose death, bringing a major chapter in the high-profile case to a close.

US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, while handing down the sentence in a Los Angeles federal court, told Iwamasa that he had failed the actor despite being fully aware of his addiction struggles.

“You were privy to his struggle with addiction,” the judge said. “Your conduct was reckless, not just on the day of his death but in the days leading up to his death.”

Iwamasa, 60, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death after prosecutors accused him of repeatedly supplying and injecting Perry with the drug in the weeks before the actor was found dead in his jacuzzi on October 28, 2023.

The sentencing hearing turned emotional as Perry’s family and close associates directly confronted Iwamasa in court, blaming him for enabling the actor’s downward spiral.

Perry’s stepfather, veteran “Dateline” journalist Keith Morrison, said the family had trusted Iwamasa like one of their own.

“We really felt that he was part of the family,” Morrison told the court. “We trusted him implicitly.”

Rejecting claims that Iwamasa was powerless to stop Perry, Morrison added: “You did the injections. You could have made the phone call. But you did not. Because you were living a dandy life.”

Perry’s longtime business manager Lisa Ferguson delivered one of the strongest statements during the hearing, accusing Iwamasa of isolating the actor from sober companions and exploiting his addiction.

“What you are is the monster that killed him,” Ferguson said. “Matthew deserved to live. You do not.”

Iwamasa apologised directly to Perry’s family in court and admitted regret over his actions.

“I am horribly, horribly sorry, and I offer my condolences to you,” he said. “I am just so sorry to have done these illegal acts that I will forever regret.”

According to investigators, Iwamasa initially lied to police and disposed of evidence linked to ketamine use after Perry’s death. However, he later cooperated with authorities and became a key informant in the broader investigation involving multiple individuals, including doctors and alleged drug suppliers.

The case also led to charges against Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” by prosecutors, who received a 15-year prison sentence, the harshest punishment in the case.

Judge Garnett ultimately sided with prosecutors on the prison term, though she said there was “no hard evidence” that Iwamasa acted with malicious intent.

Matthew Perry became one of television’s biggest stars through NBC’s iconic sitcom “Friends”, alongside Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow. His death at 54 triggered global shock and renewed debate over addiction, celebrity culture and access to prescription drugs.