Woman Arrested for Alleged Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family

A Missouri woman, Lisa Jeanine Findley, was taken into custody on Friday in connection with an elaborate scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and auction off the legendary Graceland property.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Findley, who used multiple aliases in her scheme, has been charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 53-year-old allegedly orchestrated a complex plot to extort the Presley estate and fraudulently acquire ownership of the historic Memphis landmark.

Findley allegedly created a fake private lending company, Naussany Investments, and claimed that Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 and used Graceland as collateral. When the loan supposedly went unpaid, Findley demanded $2.85 million from the Presley family to settle the debt.

The scheme took a dramatic turn when Findley published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper, announcing the auction of Graceland in May. However, the sale was halted by a judge after Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, who inherited ownership of the family trust and Graceland, sued the lending company.

An investigation was launched, which was later transferred to a federal level in June. Findley allegedly attempted to shift the blame to an identity thief in Nigeria amid the media frenzy surrounding the foreclosure attempt.

The Presley Family’s Most Heartbreaking Tragedies

Elvis Presley, the music icon, left behind a legacy that has endured for decades. His family, however, has faced numerous heart-wrenching tragedies, including his sudden death in 1977 and the struggles that followed.

Inspector in Charge Eric Shen stated, “Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status. In this case, Ms. Findley allegedly took advantage of the very public and tragic occurrences in the Presley family as an opportunity to prey on the name and financial status of the heirs to the Graceland estate, attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain.”

Inside Elvis Presley’s Graceland

Graceland, the legendary Memphis, Tennessee mansion, holds a special place in music history. Elvis Presley purchased the property in 1957, and it has since become a symbol of his enduring legacy.

U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz stated, “As a Memphian, I know that Graceland is a national treasure. This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to try to defraud the Presley family of their interest in this singularly important landmark.”

Findley faces a minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud if convicted.