The woman behind an elaborate plot to sell Elvis Presley’s famed Graceland estate pleaded guilty in a Memphis federal court on Tuesday, admitting to mail fraud in connection with the scheme. Lisa Jeanine Findley, 61, of Kimberling City, Missouri, confessed to fabricating loan documents and staging a false foreclosure auction in an attempt to defraud the Presley family out of millions.
Findley’s scam hinged on the claim that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million loan using Graceland as collateral — a claim prosecutors say was entirely fictional as detailed here. Posing as multiple people, Findley forged signatures, created bogus financial documents, and arranged for a foreclosure notice to appear in a Memphis newspaper in May 2024.
A Missouri woman agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud for her role orchestrating what the authorities described as a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s heirs by claiming ownership of Graceland and threatening to sell it in a foreclosure auction. https://t.co/1MauVtRG4L
— New York Times Music (@nytimesmusic) February 25, 2025
The fraudulent sale was halted after Lisa Marie’s daughter, Riley Keough, filed a lawsuit contesting the claims. A judge blocked the auction and ruled that the evidence presented by Findley and the fake lender, Naussany Investments and Private Lending, was likely fraudulent.
UPDATE: Woman pleads guilty to federal mail fraud charge in plot to sell Graceland https://t.co/EVk8EzZ1P9
— WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) February 25, 2025
Authorities say the scheme collapsed under scrutiny, with a notary public denying any involvement in the transaction and court officials questioning the authenticity of Lisa Marie Presley’s alleged signature. After the scam was exposed, Findley attempted to shift blame onto an international identity theft ring.
Findley was initially charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, but as part of her plea agreement, the second charge was dropped. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 18, where she could face up to 20 years in prison, though she is expected to receive a lesser term.
Graceland, a 13-acre estate in Memphis, was home to Elvis Presley until his death in 1977 and remains a major tourist attraction. Keough, who now oversees the estate, has vowed to keep it in the family and preserve its legacy.
