MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – The iconic Graceland mansion, once owned by the legendary Elvis Presley, is embroiled in an auction fraud scandal that has piqued the interest of the FBI. Reports suggest that FBI officials have reached out to Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, to discuss a potential criminal investigation into the matter.
According to TMZ, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has also been contacted regarding the fraudulent auction surrounding Graceland. Suspicions have led investigators to believe they know who may be behind the questionable sale of the property.
The scandal prompted a Memphis judge to pause a planned foreclosure sale of Graceland, citing concerns over possible forgery of legal documents. Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins ruled in favor of keeping the historic property in the hands of the Presley family after questioning the legitimacy of the documents instructing them to surrender it to an investment company.
The controversy stems from Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC’s claim to auction off Graceland, the most popular museum in the United States in 2023. The company alleged that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, had offered Graceland as collateral after borrowing $3.8 million before her passing in 2023.
However, a lawsuit filed by Lisa Marie’s daughter and heir, Riley Keough, alleges that the documents were forged, including her mother’s signature, and that the company itself was a fraudulent entity. Keough, described as “traumatized” by the ordeal, expressed disbelief that such an iconic property could be considered for sale to strangers.
Graceland, bought by Elvis for $102,500 in 1957, has been a landmark in Memphis attracting half a million visitors each year. After Elvis’ death in 1977, Lisa Marie inherited the estate, which opened to the public as a museum in 1982. Following Lisa Marie’s death in 2023, Riley Keough became the heir to the iconic property.
The company will now have to substantiate their claims in court as the legal battle over the ownership of Graceland continues.
