Man Accused of Defrauding Beachcomber Investors Caught in Florida

A man who allegedly defrauded investors for $1.5 million to rehabilitate Quincy’s Beachcomber bar before going AWOL has been located and arrested. Scott J. Wolas — or Eugene Grathwohl, as he was known while working as a real estate broker in Quincy — was arrested last week in Delray Beach, FL, according to the Boston Globe.

Wolas had been working from a Century 21 office in Quincy while he collected investments for the Beachcomber, as previously reported. The restaurant and music venue had closed in September of 2015 and Wolas was set to purchase the property, demolish it, and build a new high-end restaurant that would retain the Beachcomber name. In September 2016, Wolas didn’t show up for a closing meeting for the property.

The FBI and Quincy police were reportedly responsible for tracking down Wolas in Florida. He faces charges of criminal wire fraud and identity theft in connection with the Beachcomber redevelopment project.

• Whereabouts of Mysterious Beachcomber Buyer Unknown [EBOS]
• After 20 Years on the Run, Alleged Quincy Con Man Caught in Florida [BG]
• Man Charged In Beachcomber Redevelopment Scam Arrested In Florida [Patch]