A level 2 sex offender who had frequented the Rye Library last November is now working in downtown Rye.
Wale Gai, a known Level 2 sex offender in the local area, is now working at Le Pain Quotidien Restaurant on 30 Purchase Street. Last November, Rye PD advised the community of Gai frequenting the area, specifically the Rye Free Reading Room.
Level 2 indicates a “moderate risk of repeat offense”, according to the New York State Sex Offender Registry. State records show Gai was convicted in June of 2019 for Rape in the 3rd degree in a crime involving a 14 year old girl. The crime took place May 1, 2018 and the arresting agency was the Mount Vernon Police Department. He served one year in prison.
On Tuesday, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services issued a public alert indicating Gai had been living at 30 Purchase Street. This prompted Rye PD to look into the matter. Lieutenant Mike Anfuso spoke with the manager of Le Pain Quotidien Restaurant and confirmed Gai was working there but not living at the location. When asked where he lived, Gai did not provide a specific answer. The Division of Criminal Justice Services now lists Gai’s residence as “homeless” but now lists his employment as 81 Elm Street in New Canaan – the site of another Le Pain Quotidien Restaurant. This is curious as he was confirmed to have been working at the restaurant’s Rye location just this past Tuesday.
The responsibility of tracking Gai’s home location lies with his case worker at the Westchester County Police Department. Previous locations provided for Gai have been noted as “homeless” and “unknown” and 25 Operations Drive, Valhalla, which is the Westchester Community Health Center at Grasslands Homeless Shelter. In May, State records on Gai indicated an employment address of 30 Purchase Street in Rye (Le Pain Quotidien) but at the time sources told MyRye.com last fall that there was no record of Gai working there.
Gai, age 30, is a black male, 5’9”, with brown eyes and slim build. Gai is a selective mute and is known to communicate by showing text messages on his phone. On November 14th last fall, Rye PD was notified by two teens of a non-criminal encounter with a Gai at the Rye Public Library. He was interviewed by detectives at the time and stated he frequents the Rye library.
The Rye PD worked with the library and issued notice to local media and the community. When it issued its community notice on Gai last fall, Rye PD said “the information about this individual is being disseminated to raise awareness, it is important to remember that there is no known imminent threat to the community. However, residents are encouraged to be cautious and take appropriate safety measures.”
Safety Measures
Rye PD has previously shared these safety measures
- Be Vigilant: Remain aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.
- Talk to Children: Discuss personal safety measures with your children and emphasize the importance of reporting any inappropriate behavior.
- Access Information: Information regarding registered sex offenders in New York State can be found on the New York State Sex Offender Registry website.
Other photos of Gai:
