An individual allegedly involved in a scheme to acquire Elvis Presley’s iconic Graceland home in Memphis reportedly reached out to CNN via email claiming responsibility for the scam, the outlet reported this week.
Graceland became the target of Nausanny Investments and Private Lending, LLC after the company claimed that the singer’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who died in 2023, didn’t repay a loan using the home as collateral.
Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter, Danielle Riley Keough, who was granted virtual control of Graceland when her mother passed away, has since challenged Nausanny Investments’ claims, arguing that her mother never took the loan and maintaining that she was a victim of fraud.
An auction for the iconic home was planned for last week; however, Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issued a temporary injunction, blocking the auction.
CNN reported Wednesday that it reached out to an email associated with Nausanny Investments amid the legal battle and received a response back from an individual claiming to be a scammer involved in the scheme to acquire Graceland.
The self-proclaimed scammer reportedly wrote the following to CNN via email in a language spoken by people primarily in Uganda: “I didn’t win this one. I’ve stole (sic) many identities and received monies, we don’t win all.”
“We use innocents and we steal identity,” the individual reportedly added.
CNN said the response it received from the individual is similar to responses received by other news outlets who have also reached out to Nausanny Investments amid its attempt to acquire Graceland.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office is currently “looking into” Nausanny Investments’ attempt to foreclose on Graceland.
Last week, Skrmetti said his office has consistently fought fraud over the years and is committed to thoroughly determining the “full extent of any misconduct that may have occurred” regarding Graceland.
Since its opening to the public on June 7, 1982, Graceland has become the second-most visited home in America, with nearly 1 million visitors annually. Only the White House attracts more tourists to a home.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Graceland Residence” by Terry Waggoner. CC BY-SA 4.0.