Slain radio host, dirty doc, and Pagans - Bizarre timeline in Kauffman case

By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Nearly 6 year investigation ends with murder charges

Nearly six years after a South Jersey radio host, businesswoman and veterans advocate was found shot and killed in her home, authorities charged her doctor husband with orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot.

James Kauffman arranged to have her killed to protect an illegal opioid pill distribution operation he ran with members of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, authorities said.

Another six people connected to the gang were charged with racketeering in the drug ring, which prosecutors said continued until last summer when Kauffman was arrested at his office while brandishing a gun.

Kauffman "was intent to have her killed, as opposed to losing his financial empire," Atlantic County prosecutor Damon Tyner said at a press conference Tuesday.

Here's a look at the timeline in the case from the time April Kauffman asked her husband for a divorce until officials announced Tuesday that James Kauffman had been charged with her killing.

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Summer 2011 - April Kauffman seeks divorce, says she'll expose drug ring

In the summer of 2011, April Kauffman told her husband she wanted a divorce. After her husband, objected she threatened to expose the drug ring, officials said.

James Kauffman later told Ferdinand Augello about his wife's threats and solicited the Pagan gang in a murder-for-hire plot, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office

It took about a year for James Kauffman to find someone willing to kill her, authorities said.

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May 10, 2012 - April Kauffman slain in home

April Kauffman, 47, was found shot in a bedroom inside her Linwood home. Police responded to the residence following a 911 call from a worker who took care of her birds.

The man who agreed kill Kauffman, Francis Mullholland, was driven to the home, where the doors were left open, authorities said. Mulholland shot her twice, prosecutors said. (Mulholland died of a drug overdose in 2013, officials said.)

James Kauffman later told authorities his wife was alive when he left the house that morning.

April Kauffman had received a governor's award for outstanding community service a few days before her death.

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In this May 25, 2016, photo, Kim Pack poses with a photo of her late mother, talk-show host April Kauffman. (Vernon Ogrodnek/The Press of Atlantic City via AP)

January 24, 2014 - April Kauffman's daughter says James Kauffman killed her

April Kauffman's daughter, Kim Pack, declares that James Kauffman is responsible for her mother's death, according to PressofAtlanticCity.com. Pack also said she sued James Kauffman to stop him from claiming her mother's life insurance policy.

Transamerica previously informed James Kauffman he can't collect on his deceased wife's $600,000 policy until the insurance company received a letter from the prosecutor's office that verifies he wasn't involved in her slaying.

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March 5, 2014 - Life insurance dispute

A federal court was asked to determine who should receive the $600,000 payout from April Kauffman's two life insurance policies with Transamerica. The status of the life insurance policies remains in dispute.

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May 2017 - Prosecutor seeks James Kauffman's DNA

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion requesting the DNA of James Kauffman.

His attorney opposed the request. Judge Bernard DeLury issued a ruling, but didn't allow it to be made public, according to OCSentinel.com.

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Investigators search the home of Dr. James Kauffman in Linwood after he was taken into custody at his medical office, in Egg Harbor Township on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. (Vernon Ogrodnek/The Press of Atlantic City via AP)

Jun 13, 2017 - Kauffman arrested on gun charges after standoff at office

James Kauffman displayed a Ruger 9mm handgun and pointed it at himself when authorities showed up to execute a search warrant at his office in Egg Harbor Township, officials said. He surrendered after a 45-minute standoff.

He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of hollow point bullets and obstruction of the administration of law.

Kaufman, 69, was placed under psychiatric care after being taken into custody, authorities said.

On the day of Kauffman's arrest, authorities said they also searched his Linwood home and a car parked outside his office.

Authorities later confirmed they searched a condominium James Kauffman owned in Philadelphia as well as his mother's home in Margate. A search warrant was also executed on a car parked outside his Egg Harbor Township medical office. Officials said they were looking for items related to medical fraud.

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June 19, 2017 - Judge orders Kauffman held in jail

A judge ordered Kauffman held without bail while he awaits trial on the gun charges, according to PressofAtlanticCity.com. Nine days later, Kauffman appealed the judge's decision. At this point, Kaufmann had not been charged in the death of his wife or drug distribution charges related to his medical practice.

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June 29, 2017 - Kauffman's medical license is suspended

The endocrinologist's medical license was temporarily suspended while criminal charges were pending.

"Dr. Kauffman's conduct, followed by his criminal arrest, demonstrates an imminent danger to the public," state Attorney General Porrino said in a statement. Porrino said the state Board of Medical Examiners "acted appropriately to ensure that he will not be allowed to practice medicine until this very serious matter is resolved."

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Aug. 1, 2017 - Kauffman loses appeal of pre-trial detention

An appellate court ruled Kauffman will remain in the Atlantic County jail until gun charges against him are resolved.

The court upheld a pre-trial detention order.

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Sept. 6, 2017 - Kauffman indicted on weapons charges

Kauffman was indicted Sept. 6 by an Atlantic County grand jury on four weapons offenses related to his arrest following the standoff at his medical office.

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Attorney Ed Jacobs, foreground along with James Kauffman, left, appears in court at Atlantic County Courthouse in Mays Landing on. Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

Sept. 28, 2017- Kauffman pleads not guilty to gun charges

James Kauffman pleaded not guilty to the four gun charges against him.

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Dec. 4, 2017 - Kauffman loses bid to have gun charge tossed

Kauffman was denied in his request to have the gun charges against him dismissed.

Kauffman's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the four-count indictment on Oct. 17. They presented their arguments in Superior Court in November.

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Jan. 9, 2018 - Kauffman charged with murder

Kauffman and an alleged co-conspirator Ferdinand Augello, 62, of Petersburg, were charged with first-degree murder and racketeering. Five others were also charged with racketeering.

Every person enlisted by Kauffman was a Pagan, former Pagan or an associate of a Pagan motorcycle gang member.

Besides Kauffman and Augello, six other people from four states were arrested and charged in connection with the drug ring.

Kauffman wrote prescriptions for painkillers to people Augello had sent in and received up to $1,000 per visit, authorities said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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