Marblehead lawyer charged in mortgage scheme
Marblehead lawyer Leon Gelfgatt is scheduled to be arraigned today in Cambridge District Court in Medford in connection with an alleged million-dollar mortgage hijacking scheme.
Gelfgatt was arrested yesterday by State Police as he attempted to retrieve more than $1.3 million in mortgage funds linked to a "sophisticated mortgage fraud scheme," according to the state Office of the Attorney General. He is being charged with attempted larceny and uttering.
In the alleged scheme, the state said, Gelfgatt identified properties scheduled for sale and recorded false documents in the Registry of Deeds to make it appear that his invented company was the new holder of any mortgages on the properties. He allegedly aimed to have mortgage funds sent to his company rather than to the true mortgage holders when the properties were sold.
Gelfgatt could not be reached for comment.
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