Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber extorted by German man

By April MacIntyre Nov 13, 2009, 0:49 GMT

Crawford and her husband reportedly went to the authorities after being contacted by Kayalar. Allegedly Gerber had paid Kayalar $1,000 for what he thought was the original photo. But Gerber claims Kayalar came back for more money, according to the TMZ report filed. © Adam Bielawski / PR Photos

Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber were victims of an alleged extortion plot over a purloined picture of their daughter.

TMZ reported that legal papers were filed in federal court that lay out the bizarre events:

A German national, Edis Kayalar, an alleged friend of a former nanny of the couple had a photograph of their seven-year-old daughter in a bizarre tied-up and gagged pose. 

The Crawford/Gerber camp alleges the photo was of a game of cops and robbers in progress, snapped without their knowledge. TMZ reports that the ex nanny took the photos as a "prank" and that her friend Kayalar had access and took the photo.

Crawford and her husband reportedly went to the authorities after being contacted by Kayalar.  Allegedly Gerber had paid Kayalar $1,000 for what he thought was the original photo. But Gerber claims Kayalar came back for more money, according to the TMZ report filed.

TMZ then revealed that Kayalar was arrested, then placed in federal custody by ICE agents for an immigration violation and then deported back to Germany.

Allegedly, Kayalar called Crawford and Gerber from Germany threatening more trouble, and that he "had no choice now but to extort the victims for money because they had gotten him deported." He then reportedly demanded $100,000 or else he'd release the photo to the media.  TMZ shared that they were contacted six weeks ago about purchasing this photo and declined.