Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office has cleared an investigation into an attempt to federal authorities to conduct a fraudulent foreclosure auction of music icon Elvis Presley’s former home. . Associated Press (Associated Press).
Presley purchased the famed home called Graceland in 1957 after his career skyrocketed, earning him the nickname “The King of Rock and Roll.” Presley owned the property until his death in 1977 at the age of 42. Lisa Marie inherited the property in 1993.
Earlier this year, a company attempted to auction off Graceland, claiming that Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January 2023, defaulted on a loan secured by the estate. In May, actress Riley Keough (Lisa Marie’s daughter and Ives’ granddaughter) filed a lawsuit to stop sales and accuse the company of fraud.
According to the Associated Press, the company aiming to launch the auction does not appear to be genuine and the documents supporting its claims are questionable. Later, a con man took credit for the ordeal.
Around the same time, Schemetti announced that his office was investigating the attempted foreclosure and auction.
“My office has been fighting homeowner fraud for decades, and there are no more beloved homes in Tennessee than Graceland,” he said. “I have asked my attorneys to investigate this matter to determine the full scope of any wrongdoing that may have occurred and to determine what steps we can take to protect the heirs of Elvis Presley and anyone else who may be similarly threatened. people.
But this week, Schemetti’s spokesperson Amy Lannom Wilhite revealed that his office was turning the investigation over to federal authorities. She told The Associated Press that the attempted sale was “best handled by federal law enforcement.” She did not specify which federal agencies would investigate the matter or who would represent them. FBI declined to comment on any specific details.
According to the Associated Press, “A May 25 email to The Associated Press from the same address stated in Spanish that the foreclosure sale was initiated by a Nigerian fraud ring that Targeting elderly and deceased Americans and using the Internet to steal money. “Keough’s lawsuit is ongoing. Future hearings have not yet been determined.
