**Federal Investigation Into Attempted Foreclosure of Elvis’ Graceland Mansion**
Elvis Presley’s iconic Graceland mansion narrowly escaped being auctioned off last month, thanks to a last-minute intervention by officials. The sale was halted after Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter, revealed that a fraudulent company had produced forged documents claiming her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley, had taken out a multimillion-dollar loan that was never repaid. The mansion was allegedly used as collateral in these fake documents through a signed deed of trust. This attempted sale is now under federal investigation, as reported by USA Today.
The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office initially looked into the matter but quickly realized that it was best suited for federal law enforcement. “We have faith in our federal partners and know they will handle this appropriately,” said Amy Lannom Wilhite, the director of communications for the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti had previously announced that his office would investigate Naussany Investments and Private Lending, the entity behind the attempted sale. “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.
Elvis Presley purchased Graceland for $102,500 in 1957, and it has since become a significant cultural landmark. The mansion attracts around 600,000 tourists annually and generates $150 million in economic impact for Memphis, Tennessee. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in March 2006 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Naussany Investments alleged that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million loan that she never repaid before her death in 2023. The firm then initiated plans to sell Elvis’ estate and its surrounding acreage at a foreclosure auction. However, attorney Jeffrey Germany, representing Keough, filed a complaint challenging the authenticity of the purported deed of trust. Germany submitted an affidavit stating that the notary did not notarize Lisa Marie’s signature on the deed of trust.
Keough filed a 60-page lawsuit against Naussany Investments, asserting that her mother never borrowed any money from the company and that the signatures on the deed were forgeries. She also claimed that Naussany Investments is not a legitimate entity. Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough have denied claims that Graceland went into foreclosure and are fighting back against the legality of the purported sale.
The case took a bizarre turn when three foreclosure notices were published by Naussany Investments beginning on May 6, citing a public auction for the historic Memphis estate. On May 22, the foreclosure sale was halted by Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins after a Shelby County Chancery Court hearing. Following the hearing, Memphis-based law firm Morton & Germany, representing Riley Keough and The Promenade Trust, filed a countersuit regarding the sale, claiming the foreclosure claims were fraudulent.
Before the hearing, Morton & Germany had not received any communications from Naussany Investments representatives. Addresses associated with the company were all linked to P.O. boxes. On the morning of the May 22 hearing, the Shelby County Chancery Court received a letter from a Gregory Naussany asking the court to delay the hearing, which was denied. Following the hearing, an alleged Gregory Naussany emailed The Commercial Appeal, claiming to drop the case. The email was riddled with grammatical errors, and neither the Shelby County Chancery Court nor Morton & Germany offices had received any communication from Naussany Investments representatives.
On May 25, The Commercial Appeal received a second email from an alleged Kurt Naussany, who is named in the original lawsuit along with a Carolyn Williams. This email was written in Spanish and claimed that the alleged Naussany Investments firm was the “Yahoo Ring Leader of Nigeria.” The New York Times and The Daily Memphian also reported receiving similar emails from Kurt Naussany. These emails, written in different languages, contained slightly differing details but still claimed responsibility for predatory and fraudulent behavior.
The Tennessee Attorney General’s office has since turned the investigation over to federal authorities. “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. We have faith in our federal partners and know they will handle this appropriately,” said Amy Lannom Wilhite.
In May, Riley Keough filed a lawsuit against Naussany Investments, which claimed to hold the deed to the property. Naussany alleged that Lisa Marie Presley had used the estate as collateral to secure a $3.8 million loan and that she failed to repay it. Keough claimed fraud and sued to protect the estate from foreclosure. A Shelby County Chancery Judge agreed and blocked the sale, and Naussany said it had dropped its foreclosure efforts.
The Department of Justice has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. The case remains active, and no future hearings have been set. Graceland continues to operate as a museum and tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. A large Presley-themed entertainment complex across the street from the museum is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Source: USA Today, Fox News, The Commercial Appeal, ABC News
