Scammers take credit for Elvis Presley's Graceland auction attempt
Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down how the cyberthieves almost pulled off the Graceland scam on 'Fox News Live.'
Elvis Presley's historic Graceland mansion faced the auction block last month only for officials to call off the sale at the 11th hour.
Authorities initially halted the sale after Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, said a fake company produced forged documents stating that her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley, had taken out a multimillion-dollar loan that she never paid back. Graceland was allegedly part of the collateral in the fake documents via a signed deed of trust.
The attempted sale remains under investigation but is now under a federal probe, according to USA Today.
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The attempted sale of the Graceland mansion is under federal investigation. (Marka/Universal Images Group via Getty Images | Richard Berkowitz/Getty Images)
"The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office looked into the Graceland matter, and it quickly became apparent that this was a matter best suited for federal law enforcement," director of communications for the Tennessee Attorney General's Office Amy Lannom Wilhite said in a statement to the outlet.
"We have faith in our federal partners and know they will handle this appropriately."
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Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said at the time of the attempted foreclosure sale that his office would be looking into Naussany Investments and Private Lending.
Elvis Presley purchased Graceland for $102,500 in 1957, according to the History Channel website. (Michael Ochs Archives)
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"I have asked my lawyers to look into this matter, determine the full extent of any misconduct that may have occurred and identify what we can do to protect both Elvis Presley’s heirs and anyone else who may be similarly threatened," Skrmetti said in a statement.
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Naussany alleged Lisa Marie took out a $3.8 million loan that she never paid back before her death in 2023. The firm then initiated plans for Elvis' estate, as well as its surrounding acreage, to be sold at a foreclosure auction.
Lisa Marie Presley died in 2023. (Christopher Polk)
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Attorney Jeffrey Germany, who represents Keough, filed a complaint with the court regarding the authenticity of the purported deed of trust. Germany submitted an affidavit that said the purported notary did not notarize the signature of Lisa Marie on the purported deed of trust.
Keough said in a 60-page lawsuit against Naussany Investments that her mother never borrowed any money from the company and that Presley’s signatures on the deed are forgeries. Keough also alleged that Naussany Investments is not a real entity.
Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough are denying claims that Graceland went into foreclosure and are fighting back against the legality of a purported sale. (Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
About 600,000 tourists visit the property each year, according to the property's website. Graceland generates $150 million in overall economic impact for Memphis, Tennessee.
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It was designated a National Historic landmark in March 2006. In 1991, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
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