A Suspicious Attempt at Graceland Theft
While uncertain, recent events suggest an obscure lending company may have attempted to steal Graceland. A Tennessee judge's remarks on Wednesday strongly hint at this alarming possibility.
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So, here’s the scoop: A Tennessee judge recently raised some eyebrows by suggesting that a little-known lending company might have attempted to swipe Graceland. While we can’t say for certain, the situation sure seems suspicious.
A crazy chain of events happened that almost led to Graceland, a popular tourist spot in Memphis, being auctioned off. Just one day before the foreclosure sale was set to happen, it was taken off the auction block.
In case you missed it, Elvis Presley's family home, which is the second most-visited house in America after the White House, was supposed to be auctioned off this Thursday. This was because Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' daughter who passed away in 2023, had not paid back a $3.8 million loan from a private lender named Naussany Investments and Private Lending.
Naussany said the house was used as collateral for the loan and payment was now due, meaning they may lose Graceland.
However, Riley Keough, Elvis's granddaughter and the only owner of Graceland, stepped in to stop the sale earlier this month.
Keough, who starred in movies like "Mad Max Fury Road" and "Daisy Jones & the Six," took legal action against Naussany by stating that all of Naussany's claims were false.
Keough argued that there was never a loan given to her mother, and she pointed out that Naussany is not a legitimate company.
A look at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, on May 22, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
A look at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, on May 22, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Elvis’ Graceland mansion is safe from foreclosure, at least for now. A lawsuit claimed that the documents presented by Naussany, which included a 2018 notarized promissory note signed by Lisa Marie Presley, were forged. The notary public whose name was on the document even stated in an affidavit that they had never notarized Lisa Marie Presley’s signature.
Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins stated on Wednesday that the affidavit provided enough evidence to postpone the foreclosure until a hearing can clarify the situation. However, Jenkins also implied that there may have been fraudulent activities involved.
During a conversation with Keough's lawyer, Jenkins expressed confidence that they would likely succeed based on the evidence presented.
CNN tried to contact Naussany Investments but found that the phone number was no longer in service. The business was supposed to be located in Kimberling City, Missouri according to a court document from Keough’s attorney, but CNN could not find any business by that name in Missouri or nationwide.
Later, on Wednesday, a person claiming to be a representative of Naussany Investments made a statement that was difficult to understand and had many grammatical errors. In the statement, they mentioned that they would be withdrawing all claims with prejudice.
Naussany Investments & Private Lending stated that they would not be able to proceed with legal action because the Deed of Trust was not recorded and the loan was obtained in a different state. This would require filing legal action in multiple states, which the company is not willing to do.
It was mentioned that there was no intention to harm Ms. Keough due to her mother's questionable habits and mishandling of money. (LMP likely refers to Lisa Marie Presley. As for "mis habits," it's unclear what exactly that means.)
If Keough’s suspicions are correct and this turns out to be a case involving forgery and fraud, it would definitely be considered as one of the most foolish acts of all time. (And, as the saying goes, only fools rush in.)
While scammers and unethical lenders are known for carrying out various dishonest and illegal activities, most of them tend to avoid targeting the multi-million dollar estate of a globally adored cultural figure. If someone were to propose a movie plot based on this scenario, the creators of the National Treasure films would likely find it too far-fetched to even consider.
Editor's P/S:
The recent events surrounding Graceland, Elvis Presley's iconic home, have raised concerns about fraudulent activities and the potential loss of a cherished cultural landmark. The allegations of forgery and false claims made by Naussany Investments and Private Lending, the supposed lender, have cast a shadow over the situation. It is alarming that such a well-known and valuable property could be targeted by individuals with questionable intentions.
The swift action taken by Riley Keough, Elvis' granddaughter, to halt the foreclosure sale and challenge Naussany's claims is commendable. The evidence presented, including an affidavit from the notary public who denied notarizing Lisa Marie Presley's signature, suggests that there may be more to this story than meets the eye. The withdrawal of claims by Naussany Investments, citing difficulties in filing legal action across multiple states, further adds to the suspicion of fraudulent activities. It is crucial that the authorities investigate this matter thoroughly to determine the truth and ensure the protection of Graceland and its historical significance.
