Missouri Woman Faces Sentencing for Attempted Sale of Elvis Presley’s Graceland
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Missouri woman is set to be sentenced on Tuesday for her audacious attempt to defraud the family of Elvis Presley by trying to auction off the iconic Graceland estate. This bizarre case has captured public attention, highlighting the lengths to which some individuals will go in pursuit of financial gain, even when it involves one of America’s most beloved cultural landmarks.
The Scheme Unfolds
Lisa Jeanine Findley, a resident of Kimberling City, pleaded guilty in February to a charge of mail fraud. She was initially indicted on a more serious charge of aggravated identity theft, which was dropped as part of a plea agreement. U.S. District Judge John Fowlkes will preside over the sentencing in federal court in Memphis.
According to prosecutors, Findley concocted a scheme that falsely claimed that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’s daughter, had borrowed $3.8 million from a fictitious private lender and had pledged Graceland as collateral before her death in January 2023. In a desperate bid to extract money from the Presley family, Findley threatened to sell the estate to the highest bidder unless they paid a $2.85 million settlement.
A Web of Deception
Findley’s fraudulent activities included impersonating three individuals allegedly connected to the fake lender, fabricating loan documents, and even publishing a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper. This notice announced an auction of Graceland scheduled for May 2024. However, the scheme unraveled when Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter, filed a lawsuit that prompted a judge to halt the sale.
Experts have expressed disbelief at the audacity of Findley’s actions, particularly given the high-profile nature of Graceland, which has been a museum and tourist attraction since 1982. The estate draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, making it one of the most recognized pieces of real estate in the United States.
The Legal Battle
The public notice for the foreclosure sale claimed that Promenade Trust, which manages the Graceland museum, owed $3.8 million due to a failure to repay a loan taken out in 2018. Following the death of Lisa Marie Presley, her daughter Riley Keough inherited the trust and ownership of Graceland.
Keough’s lawsuit alleged that the lender, Naussany Investments and Private Lending, presented fraudulent documents claiming that Lisa Marie had used Graceland as collateral. The lawsuit further contended that Lisa Marie never borrowed money from Naussany, a claim supported by Kimberly Philbrick, the notary whose name appeared on the documents. Philbrick stated she had never met Lisa Marie nor notarized any documents for her, casting further doubt on the authenticity of the signatures.
In a significant ruling, the judge indicated that Elvis Presley’s estate could successfully argue that the auction attempt was fraudulent. The judge’s decision to halt the foreclosure sale was based on the dubious nature of the documents presented by Naussany.
The Fallout
After the scheme collapsed, Findley attempted to deflect blame by suggesting that a Nigerian identity thief was responsible for the fraudulent activities. In an email sent shortly after the foreclosure notice, she claimed that the attempted sale was orchestrated by a Nigerian fraud ring targeting deceased individuals in the U.S. This last-ditch effort to distance herself from the crime only added to the absurdity of the situation.
Graceland: A Cultural Icon
Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, has been a significant cultural landmark since it opened to the public in 1982. The estate, located in Memphis, Tennessee, spans 13 acres and features the mansion, a museum, and a large entertainment complex owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. The estate attracts fans from around the world, eager to pay homage to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who passed away in August 1977 at the young age of 42.
The attempted sale of Graceland not only raises questions about the security of high-profile estates but also highlights the ongoing challenges of identity theft and fraud in the digital age. As technology evolves, so too do the methods employed by fraudsters, making it increasingly difficult for individuals and families to protect their legacies.
Conclusion
As Lisa Jeanine Findley awaits her sentencing, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities that even the most iconic properties can face. The audacity of her scheme, coupled with the swift legal response from the Presley family, underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting one’s heritage. The outcome of this case will likely resonate beyond the courtroom, reminding us all of the lengths to which some will go in pursuit of ill-gotten gains, even at the expense of cultural treasures.
