Husband of Slain NJ Radio Host Charged in Her 2012 Murder

The husband of a New Jersey radio host, a doctor and several others were charged Tuesday in connection with her 2012 murder, authorities said. James Kauffman, 68, of Linwood and seven other people were charged in connection to the murder of Kauffman's wife April, 47, at the family's home. They also face conspiracy and racketeering charges, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

Kauffman faced weapons and obstruction charges after he was arrested in a gun standoff last summer (see video below). An endocrinologist who has remarried, Kauffman has since lost his license to practice medicine.

April Kauffman hosted weekly talk shows and advocated for military veterans while being honored as a local businesswoman in the Lindwood area. She received a governor’s award for "outstanding community service" just days before she was shot.

Also charged were:

• Ferdinand Augello, 61, Petersburg
• Joseph Mulholland, 52, Villas
• Beverly Augello, 47, Summerland Keys, Fla.
• Glenn Seeler, 37, Sanford, N.C.
• Paul Pagano, 61, Egg Harbor Township
• Tabitha Chapman, 35, Absecon
• Cheryl Pizza, 36, Murrells Inlet, SC

Kauffman and Augello are both charged with murder as well as racketeering that's related to the illegal distribution of narcotics through Kauffman’s former medical practice. Additionally, Augello is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

The slaying happened May 10, 2012, at about 11:29 a.m., when officers from Linwood Police Department responded to a 911 call at a private residence located at 2 Woodstock Drive in Linwood, the ACPO said.

There was a report of an unconscious, non-responsive female at this location. Upon arrival, responding police and emergency medical services personnel were met by the resident of the home, James Kauffman, who reported finding his wife, April, 47, dead inside the second-floor bedroom of their residence. Police and emergency medical service personnel discovered April Kaufman unconscious and lying face down on the floor. At 11:45 a.m., she was pronounced dead, according to the ACPO.

Atlantic County Medical Examiner Dr. Hydow Park was notified and responded to the scene when it was determined that April Kauffman had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Through an ACPO investigation, it was discovered that a long-term alliance between members of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and James Kauffman was created through the use of his medical practice for illegal drug distribution. The operation culminated on May 10, 2012 with the "murder for hire" of April Kauffman. Prior to 2011, James Kauffman and Augello had a relationship that centered on James Kauffman’s medical practice.

In the summer of 2011, James Kauffman solicited Augello to murder his wife after April threatened divorce. James Kauffman stated he would sooner kill April than grant the divorce and lose “half his empire," according to the ACPO.

As a result of his objection to a favorable divorce settlement, April Kauffman threatened a number of actions to obtain divorce. In addition to her attempt to spend as much money as she could until a divorce was granted, April also threatened to expose the fraudulent and unlawful practices taking place at her husband’s medical office.

The ACPO said James Kauffman ultimately made the decision to kill April Kauffman. And based on information and belief, Kauffman told Augello that April threatened to expose the illegal OXY distribution network they had established.

The illegal drug distribution network was set up in a typically hierarchical manner. James Kauffman and Augello were at the top, and James Kauffman would give free scripts to those individuals sent by Augello.

Augello had at least two individuals recruiting for him to obtain the scripts. Those individuals then recruited additional people to receive the OXY scripts. Augello would receive either a cash payment of $1,000 per script or a predetermined number of pills once the script was filled.

Following the murder, the drug enterprise continued for five additional years. On June 13, 2017, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, with the assistance of agents from the FBI and local police agencies, executed a search warrant on Kauffman's business and residential addresses.

Upon executing the search warrant June 13, Kauffman displayed a Ruger 9mm handgun. Ultimately a hostage negotiator was successful in getting Kauffman to surrender to authorities after a standoff.

Here is a video of Kauffman's arrest:

ACPO photo