Authorities arrested a 53-year-old Missouri woman on Friday, accusing her of attempting to defraud Elvis Presley’s family out of millions of dollars.
Lisa Jeanine Findley faces charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, she was behind a scheme that nearly resulted in the foreclosure of Graceland in May.
If found guilty, Findley could face a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft and up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud.
Her arrest coincided with the 47th anniversary of Presley’s death. The iconic musician passed away on August 16, 1977, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, due to heart failure.
“As outlined in the complaint, the defendant orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to sell Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had used the historic landmark as collateral for a loan she allegedly failed to repay before her death,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“In this brazen scheme, the defendant allegedly fabricated numerous documents and attempted to extort a settlement from the Presley family,” the statement continued.
“Now she is facing federal charges. The Criminal Division and its partners are committed to holding fraudsters accountable.”
To carry out her alleged plot, Findley posed as three different individuals associated with a fictitious private lending company, Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC.
She claimed that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’s deceased daughter, had taken out a $3.8 million loan from Naussany Investments and used Graceland as collateral.
Findley is accused of forging documents that included Lisa Marie’s signature and that of a Florida State notary employee.
The woman attempted to settle the claim with the Presley family for $2.85 million. When the family refused, Graceland was put up for foreclosure.
Authorities initially halted the sale after Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, stepped forward, asserting that the documents were fraudulent.
Keough’s attorney filed a complaint, stating that the supposed notary had not actually notarized Lisa Marie’s signature.
Once the story gained public attention, Findley allegedly claimed in communications to the Presley family, Tennessee state court, and the media that an identity thief in Nigeria was responsible for the scheme.
“Fame and money are magnets for criminals who seek to exploit another person’s celebrity status,” said Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group, in a statement.
“In this case, Ms. Findley allegedly took advantage of the very public and tragic events in the Presley family to prey on the name and financial standing of the heirs to the Graceland estate, attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain.”
Shen added, “Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners brought an end to her alleged scheme, protecting the Presley family from further harm and stress.
This case highlights our dedication to thorough investigative work and our commitment to bringing criminals to justice for their unlawful activities.”
