FBI agents searched the office of a Clayton lawyer this week, seeking evidence in an investigation.

Agents on Monday seized 14 boxes of documents and other items, as well as computers and books from the offices of Martin T. Sigillito, his lawyer, David Helfrey, said Friday.

An FBI spokeswoman confirmed the search but declined to comment on the nature of the investigation. The U.S. attorney's office also declined to comment.

Sigillito could not be reached for comment Friday. His voice mail box was full and was not accepting new messages.

Helfrey said he was not aware of what agents were investigating.

"They don't tell you anything," he said of the FBI.

Martin T. Sigillito Associates Ltd., a British company, and a British man named Derek Smith were sued Wednesday by an unidentified St. Louis businesswoman who claimed that Smith and Distinctive Properties UK Ltd. borrowed almost $1.8 million of her money and would not repay the loans.

The lawsuit says that Sigillito invested $597,500 of the money without her permission. The suit seeks a temporary restraining order that would block Sigillito from transferring more than $1,000 from any account.

"All I know right now is that my people are out $1.5 million and it stinks to high heaven," said Ted Frapolli, the lawyer representing the woman.

Asked about the lawsuit, Helfrey said, "We're working on responding to it. We just got it. I can assure you that we will not be admitting that there were any fraudulent acts."

Similar allegations were lodged in a civil suit in federal court in St. Louis in March against Smith and Distinctive Properties. That suit, filed by Phillip L. Rosemann of Nevada, alleges that Rosemann lent $15 million over six years to Smith and Distinctive Properties on the advice of Sigillito. None of the money has been repaid, the suit claims.

Smith and the company did not respond to the lawsuit.

Smith and company representatives could not be reached for comment Friday.