Englewood Doctor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder

Prosecutors say a New Jersey doctor accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his lover and his business partner has pled guilty to two counts of attempted murder.

Ajit Jayaram also pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid during a court appearance Wednesday.

The 65-year-old Englewood resident, whose practice was in Jersey City, pleaded guilty to health care claims fraud and Medicaid fraud. He faces nine years in prison when he's sentenced April 12.

Jayaram initially was arrested in October 2010 as part of a Medicaid fraud investigation. Prosecutors said they later learned he twice tried to hire a hit man to carry out the killings.

Authorities have said Jayaram wanted his lover killed because he owed her $250,000 and was worried his wife would find out about the affair. They say he wanted his former business partner killed due to disputes with him over another woman.

While in jail, prosecutors say Jayaram tried to hire another inmate to kill his wife, fearing she would learn of the affair, divorce him and take his money. That charge will be dropped at his sentencing as part of his plea deal.

Jayaram's attorney, Joseph Rem, said his client takes responsibility for the incidents but blamed anti-depressant medication for making him think and act violently.

Rem said Jayaram was a respected physician who had "never had a violent thought in his life."

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)