Doctor charged with having wife killed to protect drug ring

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a New Jersey doctor running an illegal prescription drug ring with a motorcycle gang hired one of the members to kill his wife after she threatened to expose the scheme.

Prosecutors announced murder charges against James Kauffman and a member of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Gang on Tuesday in the May 2012 shooting death of April Kauffman. Another six people connected to the gang were charged in the drug ring.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said the man who fatally shot Kauffman died of a drug overdose.

Tyner says he was paid $20,000 after Kauffman said he would rather she be killed than granting her a divorce.

The drug empire continued until Kauffman was arrested in June on weapons charges.

His attorney told Philly.com that Kauffman denies any involvement in his wife’s death.