By John Pacenti
Gregg Brian Weiss — a well-known figure in Delray Beach’s civic, business and nonprofit sectors — is facing felony fraud charges for allegedly bilking a senior of $30,000, according to a Palm Beach County sheriff's affidavit.
Weiss, 58, was arrested following an investigation spanning more than a year and faces charges of obtaining property by deception from a person 65 or older, a second-degree felony, and engaging in fraudulent investment transactions, a third-degree felony.
He was taken into custody on March 31, the same day he appeared in front of the City Commission to defend restaurateur Rodney Mayo and the coffee shop Subculture.
The case against Weiss began in February 2025, when the alleged victim, a 75-year-old woman, and her son reported suspected fraud to authorities.
The alleged victim said she met Weiss through a Facebook group and hired him for $900 to prepare a will.
Investigators allege that Weiss identified himself as an investor with Ruby Capital Management. He told the woman that he could help her accrue enough money to afford a move into a Wellington assisted living facility, according to an affidavit by Sheriff’s Deputy William Goldstein.
In January 2025 the woman, who lives west of Boynton Beach, provided Weiss with a $30,000 check, intending to invest $15,000 each into two different certificates of deposit.
The subsequent investigation revealed significant red flags regarding Weiss's business operations.
Records from the Florida Division of Corporations indicated that Ruby Capital Management had been administratively dissolved and was inactive as of September 2024.
Furthermore, Weiss allegedly provided the woman with "client confirmation of trade" documents for the CDs. But the woman’s existing financial firm reported no record of any such communications or transactions.
Although Weiss had been a registered investment adviser for nearly two decades, state records confirmed his registration had ended in January 2023.
Detectives used subpoenas to track the woman’s $30,000 deposit and found that the funds were placed into a Ruby Capital Management account that Weiss controlled.
Instead of being invested, the affidavit states the money was shifted through various accounts and used for personal gain.
New Delray Beach City Commissioner Judy Mollica, who is president of Friends of Delray, said Weiss served as secretary and would take minutes of any meetings. The group sent out newsletters on development and other pertinent issues to the city.
“It’s too unbelievable even to conceive,” Mollica said of Weiss’ arrest.
Bank records allegedly showed that over $14,000 of the alleged victim’s money was transferred to a personal checking account held by Weiss and another individual, with the funds being used for food, gas and personal bills.
Additionally, records from the Seminole Tribe of Florida showed Weiss had a slot cash buy-in of over $41,000 between January and May 2025, with documented losses during that period.
When the woman grew weary of the investment and requested her money back, Weiss reportedly sent her a letter claiming his business was entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
The letter informed the alleged victim she would receive follow-up information once the firm had direction from the courts, yet a search of the Palm Beach County Court Clerk showed no record of a bankruptcy filing for the business or for Weiss personally.
Weiss, who lives west of Delray Beach, has been a visible member of the community, previously serving on boards for several nonprofits and working as a community justice planner. He is also an administrator of the Facebook group Delray Beach Community Forum.
Weiss spoke at the March 31 commission workshop reviewing whether Mayo’s coffee shop was in compliance regarding special events and parking. He said the eccentric restaurateur — who also owns DaDa in the city — was being attacked.
He gave a list of his community service before speaking in public comments: “I've been involved in Delray Beach over the past 30 years in many capacities, including chair of the Chamber of Commerce, chair of economic development for four years, as well as working with the city CRA on multiple committees for business purposes.”
A message left for Weiss seeking comment was not returned. He was being held as of April 2 on a $67,000 bond at the Palm Beach County Jail. Weiss needed to show that the bond money posted is from a legitimate source, the sheriff’s office said.
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