A Missouri woman has been accused of attempting to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, the iconic singer’s family home. Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, was arrested for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, located in Memphis, Tennessee.
Findley, who used multiple aliases, faces federal charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison. The US Justice Department claims Findley posed as three different individuals associated with a fictitious private lender called Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC.
The DOJ alleges that Findley falsely claimed Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had borrowed $3.8 million from Naussany Investments, pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan, and failed to repay the debt. Findley allegedly sought $2.85 million from Presley’s family to settle the alleged debt.
Among the fraudulent actions Findley is accused of are fabricating loan documents, forging Lisa Marie Presley’s signature, and publishing a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper. The auction to sell Graceland sparked international attention earlier this year when Presley’s granddaughter, actress Riley Keough, claimed that the paperwork on the loan was fraudulent.
Keough inherited Graceland and much of Presley’s estate after her mother’s death last year. She filed a legal action to stop the planned auction, and a Tennessee judge agreed. Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises issued a statement saying there was no validity to the claims.
Graceland, where Elvis lived until his death in 1977, is now a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist attraction, drawing roughly 600,000 visitors annually. Elvis, his parents, Lisa Marie Presley, and her son are buried on the property.
Findley made a brief court appearance on Friday and was booked into jail in Greene County, Missouri. The BBC’s attempts to reach her attorney were unsuccessful. The Presley family has not publicly commented on the charges.
