Lisa Jeanine Findley, initially steadfast in her denial of charges encompassing mail fraud and aggravated identity theft linked to an elaborate scheme, has recently reversed her plea in response to a two-count indictment. Prosecutors alleged that Findley, residing in Kimberling City, Missouri, deceitfully claimed that Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie, had borrowed a sum of $3.8 million (£3 million) from a spurious private lender, pledging the iconic Graceland mansion as collateral for the loan, shortly before her untimely demise in January 2023.
Findley subsequently threatened to auction off Graceland to the highest bidder, demanding a settlement of $2.85 million (£2.25 million) from Presley's family, according to authorities. She assumed the guise of three fictitious individuals purportedly associated with the bogus lender, crafted false loan documents, and even published a deceptive foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper, heralding the auction of Graceland in May 2024, prosecutors revealed.
Fortunately, a judge intervened to halt the sale after Presley's granddaughter and Lisa Marie's daughter, actress Riley Keough, filed a lawsuit. Experts were perplexed by the audacious attempt to dispose of one of the nation's most renowned properties using names, emails, and documents that were swiftly flagged as fraudulent.
Graceland, which opened its doors as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Across the street stands a sprawling Presley-themed entertainment complex owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. Presley, revered as the King of Rock and Roll, passed away in August 1977 at the age of 42.
Riley Keough, who inherited the trust and ownership of the historic home following her mother's death, filed a fraud lawsuit against Findley, prompting a judge to issue an injunction, thereby halting the proposed auction. The bogus lender, Naussany Investments and Private Lending, allegedly created by Findley, falsely claimed that Lisa Marie Presley had utilized Graceland as collateral for the loan, as stated in the foreclosure sale notice.
The judge opined that Elvis Presley's estate could successfully argue that the auction attempt by the company constituted fraud. Ms. Keough's lawsuit further alleged that Naussany presented fraudulent loan documents in September 2023, emphasizing that Ms. Presley never borrowed money from them.
Once the scheme unraveled, Findley attempted to frame a Nigerian identity thief as the culprit, prosecutors asserted. An email, sent on May 25, 2024, from the same email address as an earlier statement, claimed in Spanish that the foreclosure sale attempt was orchestrated by a Nigerian fraud ring that preys on elderly and deceased individuals in the United States, utilizing the internet to steal funds.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti dismissed the scheme as "nonsense" in a statement, commending the efforts of federal authorities. "Graceland holds immense significance for countless individuals worldwide—just visit Memphis during Elvis Week and listen to the diverse accents and languages of fans who make the pilgrimage," Mr. Skrmetti remarked. "All of Tennessee is relieved that Graceland remains securely in the possession of Elvis's heir and will continue to serve as a celebrated Memphis landmark for generations to come."
Findley is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. Had she been convicted, she could have faced up to 20 years in prison; however, under the plea deal, she is anticipated to receive a lesser sentence.
