Woman Confesses to Attempting to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family by Auctioning Graceland Items | Entertainment & Arts News

A woman has pleaded guilty to attempting to deceive Elvis Presley’s family by attempting to auction his Graceland estate and surrounding property before a judge intervened to stop the dubious foreclosure sale.

Lisa Jeanine Findley had previously denied charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the plan but has now changed her plea concerning the two-count indictment.

According to prosecutors, Findley, from Kimberling City, Missouri, falsely alleged that Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie, had taken out a loan of $3.8 million (£3 million) from a fictitious private lender, using Graceland as collateral prior to her death in January 2023.

Authorities reported that Findley threatened to sell Graceland to the highest bidder unless Presley’s family paid a $2.85 million (£2.25 million) settlement.

She impersonated three different individuals supposedly connected to the fake lending company, forged loan documents, and published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper, announcing the auction of Graceland for May 2024, prosecutors claimed.

The sale was stopped after Presley’s granddaughter and Lisa Marie’s daughter, actress Riley Keough, filed a lawsuit.

Experts expressed confusion over the attempt to sell one of the nation’s most iconic properties using names, emails, and documents that quickly raised suspicions of being fabricated.

Graceland, which became a museum and tourist destination in 1982, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

A large Presley-themed entertainment complex located across the street from the museum is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Known as the King of Rock and Roll, Presley passed away in August 1977 at the age of 42.

Keough, who took over the trust and ownership of the estate following her mother’s death, initiated a lawsuit alleging fraud against Findley, prompting a judge to halt the planned auction with an injunction.

The fraud was linked to a nonexistent lender called Naussany Investments and Private Lending, claiming that Lisa Marie Presley had used Graceland as collateral for the loan, according to the foreclosure notice.

The judge indicated that Presley’s estate could successfully argue that the company’s attempt to auction Graceland was fraudulent.

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Ms. Keough’s lawsuit claimed that Naussany presented fabricated documents regarding the loan in September 2023, asserting that Ms. Presley never borrowed money from Naussany.

After the scheme unraveled, Findley attempted to deflect blame by alleging that a Nigerian identity thief was the culprit, according to prosecutors.

An email sent on 25 May 2024 to the Associated Press from the same account as the earlier communications claimed in Spanish that the foreclosure attempt was orchestrated by a Nigerian fraud ring that preys on the elderly and deceased in the U.S. through the internet.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti described the scheme as “nonsense” and commended federal authorities for their efforts.

“Graceland has immense significance to countless fans globally – just visit Memphis during Elvis Week and listen to the diverse accents and languages of those who make the pilgrimage,” Mr. Skrmetti stated.

“All the people of Tennessee are relieved that Graceland is securely in the hands of Elvis’s heir, ensuring it remains a cherished landmark in Memphis for generations to come.”

Sentencing for Findley is scheduled for 18 June, with a maximum sentence of 20 years anticipated, though she is expected to receive a lesser penalty as part of her plea agreement.