Husband of slain radio host hired hitman, dealt drugs to gang

The husband of a slain New Jersey radio host hired a hitman to kill her after she learned he dealt drugs to a motorcycle gang, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Dr. James Kauffman, 69, was charged with murder in connection with the killing of his wife April Kauffman on May 10, 2012, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said at a press conference.

He was also charged with racketeering for the illegal distribution of narcotics through his medical practice. Ferdinand Augello, 62, was also charged in connection with April’s murder, the prosecutor said.

Kauffman had a relationship with the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Gang that centered on his medical practice which involved distributing drugs. Kauffman solicited Augello to murder his wife after she expressed the desire to divorce him, the prosecutor said.

Kauffman told several people he was worried about “losing his financial empire,” Tyner said. After April learned of her husband’s unlawful actions, she threatened to expose him to gain a favorable divorce settlement, Tyner said.

“This provided motivation for James Kauffman to have his wife killed,” the prosecutor said.

Authorities made no arrests in five years and said Kauffman wasn’t a suspect in the case at the time.

Frank Mulholland, the person who was paid to fatally shoot April, died in 2013 after an accidental overdose, Tyner said.

Kauffman was previously hit with gun charges and had his New Jersey medical license suspended.