A Marblehead lawyer has been accused of attempting to retrieve more than $1.3 million in mortgage funds through a sophisticated mortgage fraud scheme.

According to authorities, Leon Gelfgatt allegedly identified properties which were under agreement and scheduled for an imminent sale. He then allegedly recorded false documents at the Registry of Deeds indicating that his fake company was the new holder of any mortgages on those properties. He allegedly sought through this scheme to cause mortgage payoff funds to be delivered to the fake company, rather than to the rightful mortgage holders.

When the properties were sold, he collected the payoff funds sent by real estate closing attorneys, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office.

After an intensive and ongoing investigation into fraudulent assignments recorded at several Registries of Deeds, Gelfgatt was arrested in Boston, where he was attempting to retrieve the payoff checks.

He is charged with attempted larceny and two counts of uttering.

Investigators believe Gelfgatt may have fraudulently re-assigned numerous other mortgages.