Image Credit: Amanda Stravinsky via Tennessee Vacation, TN.gov | Facebook
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
A Missouri woman was arrested on charges she allegedly created a scheme to attempt to defraud Elvis Presley’s family out of Graceland, his former residence.
Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, is accused of using several aliases and creating false documents claiming the late Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay.
“As part of the brazen scheme, we allege that the defendant created numerous false documents and sought to extort a settlement from the Presley family,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri said. “Now she is facing federal charges. The Criminal Division and its partners are committed to holding fraudsters to account.”
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti promised in May the state would conduct an investigation after Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, requested and received a stay blocking foreclosure of the property in federal court.
Findley allegedly claimed Presley’s daughter $3.8 million in 2018 from the fictitious Naussany Investments and Findley allegedly sought $2.85 million from Elvis Presley’s family.
Findley allegedly forged the signatures of Elvis Presley’s daughter and a Florida State notary public then 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.
She also allegedly had a foreclosure notice published in the Memphis Commercial Appeal announcing a May 23 auction of Graceland.
After the case gained attention, Findley then allegedly wrote to representatives of Elvis Presley’s family, the Tennessee state court and the media to claim falsely that the person responsible for the scheme was a Nigerian identity thief.
“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,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group. “Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners put an end to her alleged scheme, protecting the Presley family from continued harm and stress.”
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
