A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Washington has indicted Anna Elperin, a former doctor from Ellensburg, on 26 felony counts related to falsifying medical examinations for commercial driver’s licenses and issuing prescriptions for controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney Pete Serrano.
Elperin, 42, is accused of two separate fraudulent schemes that took place at her former clinic, Awake Health, PLLC, between July 2018 and September 2022. According to court documents, she allegedly falsified Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examinations for commercial driver’s license applicants by certifying candidates as physically qualified when they were not. She also failed to transmit required certification data to the DOT.
Additionally, Elperin is charged with issuing false and fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances without legitimate medical purpose. The indictment alleges that she allowed staff members to write themselves prescriptions using a pre-signed pad and then requested those prescriptions back for her own use.
Elperin was arrested on November 21, 2025, and appeared in federal magistrate court on November 24. She faces charges including conspiracy to defraud the DOT, making false documents, falsification of federal records, conspiracy related to dispensing controlled substances by fraud or deception, false statements relating to health care matters, illegal distribution of controlled substances, and obtaining drugs by misrepresentation.
At a detention hearing held on November 26 before Magistrate Judge Alex C. Ekstrom, prosecutors argued that Elperin should remain detained pending trial due to concerns about substance abuse and threats against staff members. Judge Ekstrom noted there was no evidence that her substance or alcohol abuse had been addressed and expressed concern over her mental health.
“This investigation has been ongoing for a long time, and I am proud to work with such diligent investigative agencies who are focused on public safety, especially with the current environment of public concerns related to motor carrier qualifications and safety,” stated Mr. Serrano.
Cory LeGars of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General said: “This indictment highlights our unwavering commitment to exposing and pursuing fraudulent conduct by medical professionals in the motor carrier industry who are willing to jeopardize public safety. Working closely with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue to aggressively prevent, detect, and prosecute actions that undermine the integrity of DOT’s safety programs.”
David F. Reames from the DEA Seattle Field Division added: “DEA holds physicians who prescribe controlled substances to a very high standard so they do not become drug dealers with a medical license. Not only did Dr. Elperin fail to uphold this standard, in some instances she obtained the controlled substances for her personal use. We are proud of the work of DEA and our partners for holding her accountable.”
In December 2021 and September 2022—separate from this federal case—the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery along with the Washington State Department of Health imposed restrictions on Elperin’s medical license following additional charges against her.
More details regarding these licensing actions can be found at https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/kittitas-county-osteopathic-physicians-license-suspended-based-additional-charges.
The case is being investigated jointly by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney R. Pratten alongside contractor Echo D. Fatsis.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
