A Missouri woman has been charged in an elaborate fraud scheme that allegedly sought to defraud Elvis Presley’s family members of their iconic Graceland estate, according to court documents unsealed on Friday.
Federal prosecutors allege that Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, committed aggravated identity theft and mail fraud in a case that has garnered widespread attention.
According to the charges filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Findley used a variety of aliases to orchestrate a sophisticated plot to claim ownership of Graceland, the mansion once home to Presley.
Presley purchased the Memphis, Tennessee, property in 1957 and lived there until he died in 1977. Because of its significance, Graceland is designated as a National Historic Landmark and is one of the most visited private homes in the United States as well as a significant tourist draw for Tennessee.
“As a Memphian, I know that Graceland is a national treasure,” U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee said in a press release announcing the charges. “This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to try to defraud the Presley family of their interest in this singularly important landmark. Of course, all homeowners deserve to have their property protected from fraud, and the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who commits financial crimes or identity theft.”
Details of the Case
Federal investigators allege in the complaint that Findley fabricated a $3.8 million loan that she claimed was taken out by Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 2018.
According to the complaint, Findley used the false claim to assert that Graceland had been used as collateral for the loan and that the Presley family had defaulted on the payment. This, she allegedly contended, gave her the right to foreclose on the property.
To bolster her claims, Findley allegedly created and submitted a slew of fake documents, including forged signatures, fake promissory notes, and fraudulent deeds of trust.
The complaint says she manipulated official records, even going so far as to publish a “Notice of Foreclosure Sale” in a Memphis newspaper, which falsely stated that Graceland was to be auctioned off in May.
The Presley family, represented by Lisa Marie’s daughter Riley Keough, acted quickly upon discovering the fraudulent claims, the court documents note.
Keough filed a lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court to block the sale, prompting a temporary injunction against the foreclosure.
Findley then allegedly persisted in her efforts, submitting additional false documents to the court and engaging in deceptive communications with both the media and legal representatives to further her scheme.
As the scheme began to attract widespread media attention, Findley allegedly attempted to shift the blame onto a supposed Nigerian identity thief, claiming that this individual was responsible for the fraudulent actions.
Investigators say they traced the fraudulent activities back to Findley, who had used multiple aliases and rented P.O. boxes under various fictitious names to carry out her plan.
Alleged Extortion
The investigation, led by the FBI and supported by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, revealed an alleged trail of deceit spanning from Missouri to Tennessee and California.
“Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status,” said Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group. “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.”
FBI Special Agent Christopher Townsend outlined in the complaint how Findley allegedly crafted the scheme, using fake email addresses and phone numbers linked to her real identity to carry out the fraud.
Overall, Findley is accused of attempting to extort $2.85 million from the Presley family as part of the proposed settlement to avoid the fraudulent foreclosure.
Prosecutors assert that her actions were not just an attempt to steal a historic property but also an effort to exploit one of America’s most famous cultural icons for financial gain.
If convicted, Findley faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud, according to the press release.
An attorney listed for Findley in federal court records did not respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times prior to publication, nor did Elvis Presley Enterprises, which operates the Elvis Presley Trust and Graceland.
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