Jersey City doctor gets 9 years in scheme to kill lover, business partner

By Anthony J. Machcinski/The Jersey Journal
April 12, 2013 at 3:32 PM

A Jersey City doctor who pleaded guilty last month to trying to hire a hit man to kill a lover and a business partner was sentenced to nine years in prison, despite pleas from his wife and family for a lesser sentence.

Dr. Ajit Jayaram, 65, of Englewood, whose internal medical practice is at 295 Martin Luther King Dr., pleaded guilty last month to two counts of attempted murder and health care claims fraud charges.

Jayaram admitted that he attempted to hire a man to kill his lover, Radha Ramaswamy, and a pharmacist, Mukhtar Ahmed.

An investigation determined that Jayaram owed Ramaswamy $250,000 and was worried his wife would learn of their affair. Jayaram and Ahmed had a prior failed business relationship and were in an ongoing dispute over a woman.

Jayaram's wife addressed the court, pleading for the court to reduce his sentence.

"He is dearly loved by me, every single member of our family and all of his friends," she pleaded. "He has got our unflinching support no matter where he is...he is not a threat to society."

However, Ramaswamy, said the opposite to the court, and hoped that Jayaram's sentence would be longer.

"It's upsetting that my life isn't worth more than 9 years," Ramaswamy said, adding that she has battled nightmares and still fears for her life.

Jayaram must serve at least 85 percent of his 9-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Jayaram will get credit for two-and-a-half years for time served, so he could be out of prison in 2018.

Jayaram apologized for the incident, and said that he is a changed man.

"(The victim) has no reason to be afraid of me," Jayaram said. "I am a peace-loving man. What I said was horrific, but she can be sure that there is no carry-through on those threats. That will never occur and I promise that before the court."

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Jersey City doctor indicted in alleged plots to kill wife, two others and defraud Medicaid

Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 9:26 AM
By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

Dr. Ajit Jayaram, of Englewood, appearing in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City in April.

JERSEY CITY ? Jersey City Dr. Ajit Jayaram was indicted yesterday on charges he tried to have his wife, lover and former business partner killed, as well as defraud Medicaid and distributed painkillers illegally, officials said.

?This indictment suggests that nothing was beyond the realm of this doctor: not Medicaid fraud, not drug dealing, and not attempting to have those close to him murdered,? Attorney General Paula T. Dow said of the 63-year-old Englewood resident whose practice was located at 295 Martin Luther King Drive.

The doctor?s attorney, Joseph Rem of Hackensack, said last night that ?Dr. Jayaram maintains his innocence of these charges, and I note that the state is relying on the testimony of criminals who are hoping for rewards in return for their efforts.?

The 14-count indictment charges Jayaram with writing narcotics prescriptions for a cooperating witness in exchange for cash, as well as billing Medicaid for unnecessary services or services never provided. His office manager, Sheema Mickens, 30, of Jersey City, is also charged in connection with the alleged fraud, officials said.

During that probe, investigators learned Jayaram had allegedly attempted to have a man to kill his lover because he feared his wife would learn of their affair, leave him, and take all his money, officials said. They also learned he allegedly wanted the man to kill a pharmacist he owed $250,000 to and was in a dispute with over a woman, officials said.

Jayaram was arrested Oct. 12 and while in Hudson County jail in Kearny he allegedly tried to hire another man to kill his wife, officials said. The doctor remains in the jail, where he is being held in lieu of a $2.5 million bail, officials said.

The doctor is charged with numerous fraud and drug charges, but the three attempted murder charges alone carry potential sentences of up to 20 years each upon conviction, as well as fines up to $200,000 each.

The original investigation into Jayaram was handled by the Jersey City Police Department and the state Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor as part of Operation MedScam, officials said.

The prosecution of the attempted murder charges was first handled by the Hudson County Prosecutor?s Office in order to keep secret the ongoing Medicaid probe. The Attorney General?s Office is now prosecuting all charges against Jayaram.

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Wife supports Jersey City doctor accused of plotting to have her killed

Published: Thursday, June 23, 2011, 3:01 AM
By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

Dr. Sarasavani Jayaram holds up the book "Sri Sathya Sai Baba: His Life & Divine Role" at her husband's hearing in state Superior Court in Jersey City. At right is her husband's lawyer, Joseph Rem.

Yesterday?s arraignment of a Jersey City doctor on charges of trying to have his wife, lover and business partner killed was attended by his wife, who held up a religious book in support of her husband as he was led into court in handcuffs.

?Not only is she not afraid of him, she is absolutely convinced there is no way that he could have planned her murder,? said Joseph Rem, the attorney who represented Dr. Ajit Jayaram when he was arraigned on charges that include three counts of attempted murder, Medicaid fraud, and drug distribution.

The defendant?s wife, Dr. Sarasavani Jayaram, a Brooklyn neurologist, waved a book about guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba for her husband to see as he was led into Judge Kevin Callahan?s courtroom. After the hearing, she told The Jersey Journal she wanted her husband to remember the holy man?s face.

Ajit Jayaram has been barred by the court from seeing any witnesses or alleged victims in the case, but Callahan has dropped that stipulation regarding Sarasavani Jayaram at her request.

The 14-count indictment made public yesterday charges Ajit Jayaram with writing narcotics prescriptions for a cooperating witness in exchange for cash, as well as billing Medicaid for unnecessary services or services never provided. His office manager, Sheema Mickens, 30, of Jersey City, is also charged in connection with the alleged fraud, officials said.

During that probe, investigators say they learned Jayaram attempted to have a man kill his lover because he feared his wife would learn of their affair, leave him, and take all his money, officials said. They also claim he wanted the man to kill a pharmacist he owed $250,000, officials said.

Jayaram was arrested Oct. 12 and while in jail allegedly tried to hire another man to kill his wife, officials said, adding that he could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on the most serious of the charges.

At yesterday?s hearing in Jersey City, Rem entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of his client, who was remanded to the Hudson County jail in Kearny, where he is being held in lieu of a $2.5 million bail. Rem said the state?s case relies on testimony from criminals who are hoping for rewards in return.

The next hearing in the case will be before Callahan on July 27.