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Matthew Perry’s assistant sentenced to prison as family reveals heartbreaking betrayal

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Matthew Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison Wednesday for conspiring to distribute ketamine to the actor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In addition to the three-year sentence, United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett also issued Iwamasa a $10,000 fine.

Iwamasa, 61, obtained and repeatedly injected Perry with ketamine, including the fatal dose that ended Perry’s life in October 2023.

Victim impact statements submitted by Perry’s sisters, Caitlin and Madeline Morrison, said Iwamasa was a man who “left him in a hot tub to die,” according to People magazine.

MATTHEW PERRY’S FAMILY SLAMS ‘GREEDY JACKALS’ WHO EXPLOITED ACTOR, BEG JUDGE TO IMPOSE MAXIMUM SENTENCE

“It is difficult to put into words the sense of betrayal I felt when I found out what Kenny had done,” Madeline wrote.

“In many ways, it felt like my brother died all over again. Everything I believed about the day he died — everything Kenny told us — was a lie.”

She added, “The idea that someone my brother considered family could betray him in such an unimaginable way is something I never could have conceived.”

MATTHEW PERRY KETAMINE DOCTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTION

Madeline remembered one of the “most surreal and heartbreaking experiences” of her life when she chose clothes for Perry to be buried in.

“I remember how manic and unsettled Kenny seemed. He repeatedly volunteered his version of events without being asked, as if he were being interviewed rather than mourning a friend,” she wrote.

“In reality, he was trying to distract us from the truth: that he had injected my brother with a lethal dose of ketamine and left him in a hot tub to die.”

Iwamasa’s presence at Perry’s funeral was equally difficult for the family to process.

“Kenny even spoke at Matthew’s funeral,” she wrote. “The person responsible for my brother’s death stood up and addressed the people who loved him most. That is like a cruel joke I still struggle with. He didn’t just take my brother’s life — he tainted our final memories of saying goodbye.”

‘KETAMINE QUEEN’ TO PLEAD GUILTY IN MATTHEW PERRY DRUG OVERDOSE CASE

Perry’s mother, Suzanne, wrote, “Kenny’s most important job — by far — was to be my son’s companion and guardian in his fight against addiction. His number-one responsibility — ensure that Matthew remained what he wanted to be: drug free.”

“And when he had killed my son, he kept a sharp eye on me.”

Iwamasa is the fifth and final defendant to be sentenced in connection to Perry’s death, with defendants including “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez and drug broker Erik Fleming.

The “Friends” star died on Oct. 28, 2023, after an apparent drowning in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home, authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time. He was 54.

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Iwamasa procured dozens of vials of the dissociative drug ketamine over a span of weeks, and was responsible for performing multiple injections on the day Perry died, according to the plea agreement he made with the Department of Justice.

U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said at one point that the defendants distributed approximately “20 vials for approximately $50,000 in cash” to Perry for Iwamasa to distribute the drug to the actor.

During another sale, the dealers “took advantage of Mr. Perry” by selling approximately “50 vials of ketamine for approximately $11,000 in cash.”

Iwamasa used multiple sources to secure the drug for Perry, and purchased more than $55,000 worth of ketamine over a nearly month-long span leading up to Perry’s overdose death at his home in October 2023.

Perry was introduced to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a ketamine source, by Iwamasa. Plasencia, who obtained ketamine from Dr. Mark Chavez, allegedly taught the assistant how to inject Perry with ketamine. Chavez previously ran a ketamine clinic and allegedly submitted a bogus prescription in the name of a former patient to secure the drug.

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Beginning on Sept. 30, Plasencia met and injected Perry with “approximately two shots of ketamine” at his home in the Pacific Palisades. He then gave Iwamasa instructions on “where to make injections” on Perry’s body before leaving behind one vial of ketamine “with liquid still remaining in it.” Iwamasa paid Plasencia approximately $4,500 in cash.

Throughout communications, Iwamasa and the accused defendants used code words to describe the drugs, including “Dr Pepper,” “cans,” and “bots” or “bottles.”

On Oct. 10, Plasencia met Iwamasa in a Long Beach parking lot, and injected Perry with ketamine while he was sitting in the back seat of a car. Two days later, Perry visited a ketamine clinic at a doctor’s office before returning to his home where Plasencia administered another “large dose” of the dissociative drug.

Plasencia claimed Perry had an adverse medical reaction, which spiked his blood and caused his body to “freeze up” so that Perry couldn’t move or talk. He allegedly told Iwamasa, “Let’s not do that again,” before leaving additional vials of ketamine with Iwamasa.

The day before Perry died, Plasencia allegedly texted Iwamasa, “Hi I know you mentioned taking a break. I have been stocking up on the meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case its when im out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine.”

Iwamasa injected Perry six to eight times a day between Oct. 24 and Oct. 27, authorities claimed. He pleaded guilty Aug. 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

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Trump says Delaney Hall protesters are ‘paid’ as clashes escalate outside NJ ICE facility

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President Trump dismissed Delaney Hall protesters as fake and paid for as Democratic lawmakers alleged overcrowding and poor conditions at the ICE detention center.
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Feds plan new Bahamas search for Lynette Hooker after GPS data allegedly torpedoes husband’s story: source

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Federal investigators have reportedly reopened the search for the Michigan woman who disappeared in the Bahamas after newly obtained forensic data suggests inconsistencies in her husband’s recollection of events from the night she went missing. 

United States authorities are asking the Bahamas for clearance to send a dive team to search new areas in the Sea of Abaco for the remains of Lynette Hooker after newly discovered GPS data allegedly contradicted her husband’s version of events surrounding the night she vanished, CBS News first reported and a source confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

A source reportedly told the outlet that GPS data retrieved from an electronic device belonging to Brian Hooker showed a discrepancy with his story to investigators, and that the device provides investigators with locations that have not yet been searched.  

Investigators are also reportedly working to extract data from devices aboard the vessel – including an infrared camera – that may contain additional clues surrounding Lynette Hooker’s disappearance.

SAILBOAT TRACKING DATA WENT DARK FOR 11 HOURS THE NIGHT MISSING AMERICAN VANISHED IN THE BAHAMAS

A source in the Bahamas told Fox News Digital that the new search, if approved by Bahamian authorities, will focus on an area of the Sea of Abaco with waters reaching 25-foot depths. The renewed efforts are based on GPS data from Brian Hooker’s phone, in which he was using a marine navigation app. The Hookers’ dinghy allegedly visited the same area, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The Hookers’ boat, Soulmate, has been moved from Fort Pierce to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, because authorities did not have the capability to pull it from the water in Fort Pierce, a U.S. official told Fox News Digital.

The data shows the device on the water, stopping in the Sea of Abaco and later returning to shore, CBS News reported. The newly obtained data provides investigators with a more precise area to search, the source reportedly added.

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Family members of Lynette Hooker confirmed to Fox News Digital that they have provided DNA samples to aid in the investigation.

LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN’S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND’S ARREST

Additional evidence in the case continues to be processed at the FBI’s lab in Quantico, CBS News reported.

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The development comes nearly two months after Lynnette Hooker vanished while on vacation with her husband on April 4, while also raising new questions surrounding Brian Hooker’s version of events. 

Brian Hooker initially told investigators he and his wife were on a nighttime boat ride when she fell from a small dinghy and was swept away, Fox News Digital previously reported.

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He said he was forced to paddle back to shore because his wife was carrying the ignition key when she went overboard, authorities said.

HUSBAND OF MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN WILL REMAIN IN BAHAMAS AFTER JAIL RELEASE, ATTORNEY SAYS

Despite a weekslong search, investigators were unable to find Lynette Hooker.

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Brian Hooker was detained for five days by Bahamian police after his wife disappeared, but was never charged with a crime. He subsequently returned to the U.S. to tend to his “very ill” mother, his Bahamian attorney previously said.

Last month, investigators with the Coast Guard Investigative Service seized the couple’s shared sailboat and brought it to Fort Pierce, Florida, Fox News Digital reported.

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After Lynette Hooker went missing, Brian said in a Facebook post that he was “heartbroken.”

“I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas,” he wrote. “Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”

Brian Hooker has not been charged with a crime by American authorities. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Brian Hooker’s attorney for comment.

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Clint Dempsey admits USMNT roster has ‘some surprises,’ but explains optimistic mindset about World Cup squad

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Clint Dempsey had the honor of representing the United States in three World Cups, and there were likely times during all three where questions about the roster came about once it was revealed before the tournament.

The same goes for this year’s 2026 USMNT squad, which had their official roster reveal Tuesday in Manhattan. The spectacle not only confirmed previous reports about what the squad would look like, but manager Mauricio Pochettino’s first World Cup team led to some defense from the coach already.

Dempsey, speaking to Fox News Digital while highlighting his work as a mentor for global health leader Abbott’s Dream Team alongside Real Madrid, admitted this USMNT roster comes with some surprise.

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“There’s definitely some surprises,” he said. “It looks like we do have a defensive-heavy roster, especially in that right back position. But look, I’m not the one selecting this team. I still think this team can perform really well, but you’re going to need some big performances from people like Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and [Falorin] Balogun. Not to say there’s no other forwards that can contribute and other players, but to me, those players jump off the roster to me.”

Dempsey pointed at two players others were shocked to see left out — Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman – who he said you naturally “feel bad” for. However, Dempsey isn’t going to discredit what others who made their first World Cup roster bring to the table.

USMNT ROSTER TAKES SHAPE UNDER MAURICIO POCHETTINO AS US PREPARES TO HOST WORLD CUP: REPORTS

“You look at other players that got in. Shoutout to [Alex] Zendejas, how well he’s played at Club América. That left foot he has, his finishing abilities, but also his ability to assist and whip in balls with that left foot. He scored a really good goal against Japan in one of their friendlies.

“I think a surprise for some people may be Gio [Reyna], but if you look at his form with the national team, it’s up there at the top in terms of his production rate and what he gives to this team.”

It’s rare that the roster will change ahead of FIFA’s June 1 deadline, meaning this is the 26-man squad that Pochettino believes in, and this will be the group that has the privilege of representing their country on home soil during the World Cup.

Dempsey said he used to pray before bed as a kid that he got to wear the Stars and Stripes on his jersey in a World Cup, and he was able to do so more than once. But to play in front of your home country, Dempsey is now praying that the team gets off to a hot start against Paraguay to kick off their Group D play on June 12 in Los Angeles.

“I just think get off to a good start, get the fan base behind them like what you saw in the Winter Olympics with the men’s and women’s hockey teams. I’m sure there are other examples I could draw from, but to me, that’s something that I definitely noticed from the outside looking in. Hopefully that’s something they can connect with these fans and create that 12th man. That’s what’s need to push you along in big moments,” he said.

THE ABBOTT DREAM TEAM

For the second straight year, Dempsey is helping Abbott and Real Madrid with the “Abbott Dream Team,” a program encouraging young soccer players aged 18-19 throughout the U.S. to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime development experience with one of the best soccer clubs in the world in Madrid.

ALEXI LALAS DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT TEAM USA PRESSURE DURING HOME WORLD CUP: ‘CRY ME A RIVER’

Selected participants will be training with Real Madrid’s coaches at the team’s facilities, while enjoy unique experiences like attending a match at Bernabéu Stadium and meeting some team legends. Real Madrid’s medical team will also continue providing those players with the latest advancements in sports health and nutrition, helping them better understand their bodies, build healthier habits and reach their peak performance on and off the pitch.

“It’s awesome, man. Any time you can give back and give kids the opportunity to chase their dreams, that’s what it’s all about,” Dempsey said about his role in this. “I have kids of my own, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to help them accomplish their dreams, take them to all their soccer practices, and give them the best chance possible to do something great. This is one of those things where you have a tryout, you have Real Madrid coaches here watching you, and no matter what, you take something away from this experience.

“Just being here, letting [the players] know this is important, and I’m proud of them for betting on themselves and putting themselves out there to even try out for something like this.”

Other than Dempsey, Real Madrid legend Marcelo will also join this year’s Abbott Dream Team as a mentor.

Tryouts have already taken place in Miami, Washington, D.C. and Houston, where Dempsey was on Wednesday morning. There are still tryouts set for Kansas City (June 2), Los Angeles (June 4) and Chicago (June 9).

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