NJ Radio: Husband Charged In Death Of WOND Personality

April Kauffman

After nearly six years of gossip, rumor, and speculation, endocrinologist James Kauffman was charged Tuesday in the death of his wife, WOND 1400 AM radio personality April Kauffman, in an alleged murder-for-hire plot prosecutors said was connected to the Pagan Outlaw motorcycle gang and designed to prevent her from exposing a vast illegal opioid pill distribution operation.

“As a result of April Kauffman’s desire to divorce James Kauffman, he was intent to have her killed, as opposed to losing his ‘financial empire,’  as he described it to several individuals,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said Tuesday.

James Kauffman

According to philly.com, the dramatic developments cemented Kauffman’s place in the annals of accused Shore villains. He is already being held in the Atlantic County jail on weapons charges after brandishing a gun in June when authorities executed an early morning search warrant at his popular Egg Harbor Township medical practice.

Tyner said Kauffman, 68, and a co-conspirator, Ferdinand Augello, 61, of Petersburg, N.J., conspired for a year to solicit someone to kill his wife  before finding a triggerman, identified by authorities as Francis “Frank” Mullholland. Prosecutors said Mullholland was paid at least $20,000 and given a gun the morning of May 10, 2012. Tyner said he died of a drug overdose in October 2013.

“The doors were left open and Francis Mullholland was given a gun,” Tyner said.

Augello was also charged with trying to kill James Kauffman, Tyner said.  Both Augello and Kauffman were charged with racketeering, along with six others, in connection with the alleged scheme.