A Kent Police Department captain and his wife have been charged with money laundering and racketeering in Lorain County. The indictment comes following an investigation by Lorain County authorities and a series of raids.

A grand jury indicted Captain James W. Cole, 52, and his wife, Audrey Cole, 45, on Wednesday for three counts of racketeering, seven counts of money laundering, four counts of illegal casino gaming and four counts of operating a gambling house.

Cole was placed on paid administrative leave after Kent Police became aware of the investigation “to separate him from all operations pertaining to the Kent Police Department,” said Lt. Mike Lewis in a news release Thursday. Cole’s leave was changed to unpaid following his arrest.

According to the news release, there is “no indication that there are any allegations of wrongdoing by this person within the city of Kent or in Portage County,” and none of the acts in question “were committed in any official capacity pertaining to this person’s employment with the city of Kent.”

Cole’s home in Stow was included in the series of raids.

Cole has been with Kent Police since 1988 and was promoted to captain in 2011.

David Williams is a general assignment reporter. Contact him at [email protected].