A Woman Arrested for Alleged Scheme Involving Elvis Presley’s Graceland

Summary:

Lisa Findley, 53, was arrested and charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Presley family of Graceland. Prosecutors allege that Findley created numerous false documents and sought to extort a settlement from the family.

Detailed Overview:

Alleged Scheme:

Lisa Findley is accused of representing herself as three different people affiliated with a fake private lender called Naussany Investments. She allegedly claimed that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’s only child, had borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 using Graceland as collateral, but failed to repay the debt. Using one of the aliases, Findley sent an email to the attorneys of Riley Keough, Lisa Marie’s daughter, demanding payment to settle the fake loan and threatening to foreclose on Graceland. This email was sent seven months after Lisa Marie’s death.

Findley allegedly fabricated loan documents, forged signatures, and filed a fake creditor’s claim in a Los Angeles court and a fraudulent deed of trust with the Shelby County Register’s Office in Memphis. She also published several fraudulent foreclosure notices in a Memphis newspaper, announcing the alleged sale of Graceland to the highest bidder on May 23. The notices attracted global attention and prompted Riley Keough to sue Naussany Investments to stop the sale, which was subsequently blocked by a judge.

Investigation:

Federal investigators were able to trace several of the aliases and the fake private lender back to Findley. The phone number and business address for Naussany Investments provided in the creditor’s claim were linked to Findley’s name. The email used to submit the fake foreclosure notice was linked to Lisa Holden, a name Findley had previously used and continued to use.

Arrest and Charges:

Lisa Findley was arrested on August 16, 2024, the 47th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. She was charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, while the mail fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years. Findley is currently being held in the Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri.

Reaction from Presley Family and Authorities:

The Presley family has not publicly commented on Findley’s arrest.

U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz stated, “This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to try to defraud the Presley family of their interest in this singularly important landmark.”

Notary Public’s Involvement:

Kimberly Philbrick, the Florida notary public whose name was on the fake claim allegedly forged by Findley, expressed shock and confusion. She stated, “Where did they get my name? I don’t know where they got it. I wish I knew where they got it because then I could tell them, ‘Look, I’m a victim in this. You did this to me too.'” Philbrick’s sworn statement that she had never seen or notarized the loan documents led to the judge issuing the order stopping the Graceland auction.

Impact:

The alleged scheme has raised concerns about the safety of Graceland and the importance of protecting intellectual property. It has also highlighted the potential risks associated with identity theft and the consequences of forgery.