German police search Cindy Crawford extortion house

German police have searched a house in connection to an alleged extortion plot involving Cindy Crawford.

The supermodel and her husband Rande Gerber were reportedly contacted by German model Edis Kayalar, who said he had photographs of their eight-year-old daughter Kaia bound and gagged. He is said to have threatened to sell the images to the media unless Cindy paid him $100,000.

According to documents lodged in a Los Angeles court, Kaia told her parents the images had been taken as a “prank” during a game of “cops and robbers” with her former nanny.

Kayalar was deported back to Germany three months ago after he violated the terms of his US visa. American authorities have now filed papers to have him extradited to America to face a charge of extortion. If he is convicted he will face a maximum two years in jail.

German police searched the apartment in Stuttgart looking for Kayalar. A police spokesman said several items had been confiscated from the dwelling, but no one had been arrested. He refused to confirm whether the apartment belonged to the suspect.

Kayalar allegedly told Cindy, 43, and Rande, 47, he was in possession of a stolen picture and demanded a meeting in Venice, California, to hand over the cash.

Cindy and Rande’s legal complaint reads: “Kayalar claimed he had a ‘sexy’ photograph of the victim's daughter in revealing clothing bound to a chair and gagged.

“Later the same day the victims received another telephone call from Kayalar who asked to meet Gerber at a bar to give him the photograph. Kayalar hinted he was broke and would like a monetary reward for returning the photograph.”

Kayalar allegedly showed Rande a copy of the image on his mobile phone, saying he had left the original with a friend for safekeeping. Rande paid him $1,000 to destroy the photo, but Kayalar phoned back two days later and allegedly demanded more money. His demands reportedly continued when he was deported back to Germany, prompting Rande and Cindy to contact the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

Cindy and Rande also have a 10-year-old son, Presley.