Yakima, WA. — A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Washington has indicted Anna Elperin, 42, on 26 felony counts tied to fraudulent commercial driver medical certifications and the unlawful prescribing of controlled substances at her former Ellensburg clinic, Awake Health, PLLC. The alleged conduct occurred between July 2018 and September 2022.
Elperin was arrested on November 21, 2025, and made her initial federal court appearance three days later.
According to the indictment, Elperin ran two separate schemes. In the first, prosecutors say she falsified Department of Transportation physical examinations for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants. Although certified to perform DOT exams, Elperin allegedly cleared candidates who were not medically qualified and failed to submit required certification data to the Department of Transportation.
The second scheme centers on controlled-substance prescriptions. Court documents state Elperin issued fraudulent prescriptions outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice, sometimes directing staff to write prescriptions for themselves using a pre-signed pad—prescriptions that she would then take for her own use. She is also accused of signing prescriptions for controlled substances and instructing recipients to return the medications to her.
“DEA holds physicians who prescribe controlled substances to a very high standard so they do not become drug dealers with a medical license,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “Not only did Dr. Elperin fail to uphold this standard, in some instances she obtained the controlled substances for her personal use.”
Federal investigators said concerns about public safety were heightened given ongoing scrutiny of motor carrier medical-qualification practices. “This investigation has been ongoing for a long time,” noted investigator Mr. Serrano, praising the work of agencies involved.
Elperin faces charges including:
- Conspiracy to defraud the Department of Transportation
- Making false writings or documents
- Falsification of federal records
- Conspiracy to dispense and acquire controlled substances by fraud
- False statements relating to health care matters
- Unlawful dispensing and distribution of controlled substances
- Obtaining controlled substances by deception
At a November 26 detention hearing, federal prosecutors argued she should remain jailed pending trial. They asserted Elperin appeared visibly impaired at work and intimidated staff, allegedly including with a firearm. Magistrate Judge Alex C. Ekstrom ordered her detained, citing unresolved substance-abuse issues, mental-health concerns, and evidence that she had isolated herself to facilitate her addiction.
DOT Inspector General Cory LeGars emphasized the seriousness of the case. “We will continue to aggressively prevent, detect, and prosecute actions that undermine the integrity of DOT’s safety programs.”
Separate from the federal case, Washington’s Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and the Department of Health imposed restrictions on Elperin’s medical license in December 2021 and September 2022.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the Office of Inspector General.
About the Author
