Missouri Woman Arrested in Graceland Foreclosure Scheme on Elvis Presley’s Death Anniversary
On the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, a Missouri woman, Lisa Jeanine Findley, was arrested and charged in a fraudulent scheme involving the attempted foreclosure of Graceland, the iconic former home of the rock legend. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges, which include aggravated identity theft and mail fraud, in a press release on Friday.
Elaborate Scheme to Defraud the Presley Family
Findley, who has used various aliases such as Lisa Holden, Lisa Howell, and Gregory Naussany, is accused of orchestrating a brazen plot to falsely claim that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley’s daughter, had pledged Graceland as collateral for a $3.8 million loan that she allegedly failed to repay before her death. The DOJ claims that Findley created numerous fake documents, including a promissory note and a deed of trust, to support her claims.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Findley established a fake company, Naussany Investments, and used it to create fraudulent loan documents. Investigators discovered that the email account associated with Naussany Investments was created in July 2023, shortly before Findley began threatening to foreclose on Graceland.
Authorities Uncover the Plot
The scheme began to unravel after Findley sent a package to Lisa Marie Presley’s business manager, purporting to file a creditor’s claim in California Superior Court. Officials tracked Findley through a P.O. Box she rented under an alias, as well as through a phone number linked to her.
Three foreclosure notices were published by Naussany Investments in May, claiming that Graceland would be auctioned due to the alleged loan default. However, the foreclosure sale was halted by a court order after a Shelby County Chancery Court hearing on May 22.
Response from Authorities and the Presley Family
Riley Keough, Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter, filed a lawsuit to stop the foreclosure, and the Memphis-based law firm Morton & Germany, representing the Presley family, obtained a court-ordered injunction to block the sale. The law firm also filed a countersuit, asserting that the foreclosure claims were fraudulent.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating that the DOJ is committed to prosecuting fraudsters who target high-profile individuals and their estates. U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz described the scheme as “brazen,” vowing to pursue justice against those who commit financial crimes.
Global Media Attention and False Accusations
Findley’s scheme attracted global media attention, leading her to falsely claim that the perpetrator was a Nigerian identity thief. Emails sent to media outlets, including The Commercial Appeal, contained various aliases and were written in different languages, attempting to deflect blame onto others.
Conclusion
The arrest of Lisa Jeanine Findley highlights the ongoing risks that high-profile individuals and their estates face from fraudsters seeking to exploit their fame and wealth. The DOJ’s swift action in this case underscores the importance of protecting the legacies of cultural icons like Elvis Presley. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as the case develops.
