A Brewster, Washington physician has pleaded guilty to charges related to adulterating and misbranding medical devices with the intent to defraud or mislead. Dr. Eric Edward Haeger, 57, entered his plea on December 17, 2025, in the Eastern District of Washington.
According to court documents, after a June 2021 recall by Philips Respironics for certain CPAP and BiPAP machines due to health risks from sound abatement foam—including possible inflammatory responses, asthma, nausea or vomiting, and potential toxic or cancer-causing effects—Dr. Haeger acquired over 500 used and recalled devices through online resellers between July 2021 and July 2023. The devices were shipped into the Eastern District of Washington.
The documents state that Dr. Haeger and others working under his direction opened the recalled devices using tools such as screwdrivers and hooks in locations not designed as clean rooms for manufacturing medical equipment. After attempting to remove the problematic foam, they reassembled the machines.
The altered devices were then provided to patients covered by Washington State Medicaid at Dr. Haeger’s sleep clinic. Staff under his supervision billed Medicaid for these used and recalled machines while falsely representing them as new and fully functional.
Dr. Haeger is scheduled for sentencing on March 24, 2026.
First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced the plea agreement: “Dr. Eric Edward Haeger…pleaded guilty in Eastern District of Washington to adulterating and misbranding medical devices with the intent to defraud or mislead.”
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Division, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley is prosecuting the case.
