MEMPHIS, Tenn. (TND) — A Missouri woman has been arrested and charged for allegedly trying to defraud Elvis Presley's family of millions of dollars and steal Graceland, according to the Department of Justice.
Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53 of Kimberling City, Missouri allegedly posed as three different people affiliated with a fake private lender namedNaussany Investments & Private Lending LLC (Naussany Investments).
The DOJ also stated she went by several names includingLisa Holden, Lisa Howell, Gregory Naussany, Kurt Naussany, Lisa Jeanine Sullins and Carolyn Williams.
She was charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud.
An investigation revealed Findley allegedly claimed that Elvis Presley's daughter borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 fromNaussany Investments, pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan, and failed to repay the debt.
According to the DOJ, she sought $2.85 million from the family to settle the false claim.
Findley allegedly fabricated loan documents on which Findley forged the signatures of Elvis Presley’s daughter and a Florida State notary public," officials said in a news release. "Findley then allegedly filed a false creditor’s claim with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles, and a fake deed of trust with the Shelby County Register’s Office in Memphis.Findley was also allegedly behind publishing a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, announcingNaussany Investments planned to auction Graceland to the highest bidder on May 23.
Once Elvis Presley's family suedNaussany Investments to save Graceland, Findley allegedly admitted to submitting false court filings.
When the scheme attracted global media attention, the DOJ alleges Findley wrote to representatives of the Presley family, the Tennessee state court and the media falsely claiming a Nigerian identity thief was responsible for the scheme.
"Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status," Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group said. "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."
USPIS and the FBI Memphis Field Office continue to investigate the case with help from the FBI Kansas City Field Office.
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