Lisa Jeanine Findley, a 53-year-old woman, was arrested for her alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family and steal ownership of the Graceland estate. Findley faces federal charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft and is expected to appear in court in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Findley used multiple names and pretended to be affiliated with a fake private lender called Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC. Through this fake lender, Findley falsely claimed that Lisa Marie Presley had borrowed $3.8 million and pledged Graceland as collateral, but failed to repay the loan before her death last year. Findley allegedly forged signatures and filed false documents to support her claims.
As part of the scheme, Findley sought $2.85 million from the Presley family to settle the false claim. She posted a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newsletter, stating that Graceland was going to be auctioned off. Riley Keough, Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter, began proceedings to stop the foreclosure after realizing the documents were false. Findley also submitted false court filings when the Presley family sued her to stop the sale of the estate. She falsely claimed that a Nigerian identity thief was behind the scheme. If convicted, Findley faces a minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum sentence of 20 years for mail fraud.
U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee stated that Graceland is a national treasure and that Findley attempted to defraud the Presley family of their interest in the landmark. Elvis purchased Graceland in 1957 for $102,500 and the property was named to the American National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Elvis died on the property in 1977 and was buried there, along with Lisa Marie Presley, her son Benjamin Keough, and Presley’s parents and paternal grandmother. The estate has sentimental value to the Presley family and is considered an important piece of American history.
The scheme orchestrated by Findley involved using false identities and documents to claim ownership of Graceland and defraud the Presley family. By pretending to be affiliated with a fake private lender, Findley attempted to extort money from the family and create legal issues surrounding the estate. Her actions led to legal battles and false claims that required intervention from the authorities and the courts. Findley’s alleged actions endangered the legacy and ownership of Graceland, a national landmark with historical significance.
Lisa Jeanine Findley’s arrest sheds light on the lengths some individuals will go to commit fraud and theft. By forging signatures, filing false documents, and making fraudulent claims, Findley attempted to manipulate the legal system and deceive the Presley family. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting national treasures and historic landmarks from fraudulent schemes and criminal activities. The legal proceedings against Findley will determine the consequences of her actions and seek justice for the attempted scheme to defraud the Presley family and steal ownership of Graceland.
