Doctor Dealer

A Doctor High on Greed, a Biker Gang High on Opioids, and the Woman Who Paid the Ultimate Price

By: George Anastasia, Ralph Cipriano

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Dr. James Kauffman and his wife, April, were the perfect couple: a respected endocrinologist and a beautiful radio host. But under the surface lurked a world of drugs, sex, and biker gangs. A world Dr. Kauffman would kill to keep secret.

In May 2012, April Kauffman, a well-known local radio personality and staunch advocate of military veterans' rights, was found shot to death in the bedroom of the home she shared with her husband, Dr. James Kauffman.

Six years later, in the fall of 2018, Freddy Augello, a leader of the notorious motorcycle gang the Pagans, went on trial for drug dealing and murder. He was charged with arranging the death of April Kauffman in exchange for $50,000 from her husband, who, in addition to practicing medicine, was one of the area’s most prolific drug traffickers.

Told by two accomplished reporters and authors with exclusive insights and details provided by two principal players, this is the story about one man's descent into evil and the people he took with him. It's a story about a doctor who helped flood the streets with opioids, about a husband who hid dark secrets from his wives, and about a man so consumed with greed and arrogance that he thought he could get away with murder.

©2020 George Anastasia and Ralph Cipriano (P)2020 Penguin Audio

A WORLD OF SLEAZE AND MANIPULATION

I live in the area where all this took place. The authors are well known for their journalistic forays into the world of organized crime in the Philadelphia and Atlantic City regions. The authors lay out clearly the events that led up to the murder of April Kauffman. Let's make it clear, as the authors have stated in interviews, no one deserves to be murdered. But this case involving opioid distribution, murder, outlaw motorcycle gangs, a well known Atlantic City area doctor, his wives, and their children wreaks of sleaze. The story clearly lays out the lives of all the main characters in these crimes. The doctor, other perpetrators, the victims, and the local prosecutor and law enforcement. Based on this book here are my thoughts. April Kauffman knew about her doctor husband's pill mill practice, wanted a divorce, and probably held back going to the police for fear it might jeopardize a potential divorce settlement. The original head of the County prosecutor's office drug his feet on this case because the victim, a local radio personality, was promiscuous, and probably had affairs, while married, with well know men in the area. Perhaps the prosecutor was pressured to not let that get out. From the beginning the victim's daughter did a full-court press to get her step-father, the doctor, indicted. Understandable, but sure to screw up a prosecution. Also, the authors seem to indicate that the victim's daughter was having an affair with the original lead investigator on the case. Finally, the new prosecutor, while bringing the case to a close, basically by pursuing the pill mill angle, and with a new lead investigator brought the crime to light and court. But even he had issues in his office with other employees, his own life, and gave information to the press to put the spotlight on himself, it seems. As local media, after her murder, continually banged home that the victim's whole life was that of "a well-known veterans advocate," which she was, she had a radio show, but she was much more than that it appears. The book's high point is its explanation of how a local outlaw biker gang was involved and gives insight into their inner workings. It makes clear that Dr. James Kaufmann was an egotistical manipulator of people closest to him and there is no doubt he hired people to kill his wife, April. None of the players in this sad affair come out looking all that great, in my opinion. The performance was clear and well presented, if at times a bit melodramatic. But, if you're a true crime buff this is your book. This is a review of the Audible presentation.

Great story but a little hard to follow!

There were a lot of people involved and names mentioned that were hard to keep track of. I wanted more background on the marriage relationship before the murder.

Just Pagans

This book is more about the Pagan motorcycle gang. There was basically zero about the relationship between the doctor and his wife, No background on the wife at all. Did not finish the book.

Just watch the three-part docuseries on Discovery+

If you want to hear the author call sex workers "hookers" no less than 800,000 times and generally behave like the fake-tan, Jersey trash being portrayed in this book, then this is for you. Turn back while you can.