Washington doctor faces felony charges for ‘trafficking’ DOT physicals to truckers
A former physician faces more than two dozen felony charges for falsifying medical examinations for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants as well as for illegal use and distribution of narcotics.
Charges Include Conspiracy To Defraud USDOT
Anna Elperin, age 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 26 felony counts relating to prescriptions for controlled substances and Department of Transportation CDL physical examinations, according to a December 1, 2025, statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
Elperin was arrested by federal law enforcement officers on November 21, 2025.
Charges include
- Conspiracy to Defraud the Department of Transportation
- Making a False Writing or Document
- Falsification of Federal Records
- Conspiracy to Dispense Controlled Substances and to Acquire Controlled Substances by Misrepresentation, Fraud, or Deception
- False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters
- Dispensing and Distribution of Controlled Substances
- Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, or Deception
Doctor Improperly Performed DOT Exams: Officials
“The indictment alleges that Elperin, a medical doctor with a practice in Ellensburg, Washington, was trafficking, meaning the illegal sale or manipulation, in DOT physicals and narcotics out of her medical practice,” said the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General.
Between July 2018 and September 2022, Elperin worked at the Awake Health, PLLC, clinic in Ellensburg, Washington where she was a trained and certified medical examiner who was eligible to perform Department of Transportation physicals.
Officials say that Elperin “improperly performed physical examinations and then certified candidates for commercial driver’s licenses were physically qualified for such licenses when they in fact were not.”
Elperin is further accused of failing to transmit data about the certifications she signed to the Department of Transportation as required.
Doctor Accused Of Misuse Of Prescription Drugs
Elperin is also accused in a separate scheme involving prescription drugs. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
“…Elperin issued false and fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, occasionally prescribing her staff prescriptions which she herself would take from the staff member. According to court documents, Elperin had a pre-signed prescription pad at her clinic, Awake Health, and permitted staff members to write themselves prescriptions for controlled substances. Moreover, Elperin herself signed prescriptions for controlled substances for staff and others which Elperin then requested the individual return to Elperin for her own use.“
The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and the Washington State Department of Health restricted Elperin’s medical license in December 2021 and September 2022, respectively, for issues unrelated to the indictment.
“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,” said Cory LeGars, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Western Region. “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.”
“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, 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. We are proud of the work of DEA and our partners for holding her accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration.