A woman from Missouri, known for her involvement in various minor fraud schemes, was apprehended on Friday morning on federal charges related to a plot to extort a significant sum of money from Elvis Presley’s family and unlawfully claim their stake in the music icon’s former residence, Graceland.
Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, who is also referred to by the name Lisa Holden among others, faces charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft according to a criminal complaint that was made public on Friday.
Findley appeared before Magistrate Judge David Rush at the United States Courthouse in Springfield, Missouri, on Friday afternoon, where she was provided a public defender. The hearing, which lasted only seven minutes, concluded with her waiving her rights to preliminary and detention hearings, opting instead to have those proceedings take place in the Western District of Tennessee. The government sought her detention, and she was subsequently ordered to be transferred to that district, where she remains in custody.
Prosecutors contend that Findley was the mastermind behind a fraudulent scheme involving the sale of Graceland. Earlier reports outlined her connections to this plot, featuring false identities, post office boxes, and various phone and fax numbers linked to the fraudulent activities.
Witnesses described a dramatic scene at Findley’s home in Kimberling City, where approximately 15 officers executed the arrest warrant. An attorney listed in court documents as Findley’s representation has not provided any immediate comments. In a June interview conducted outside her home, Findley denied any involvement in a scam related to Graceland, yet the online accounts tied to her were deleted shortly after that interview.
The attempted scheme to take control of Graceland came to light in May when a company, Naussany Investments, emerged with unsubstantiated claims that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only daughter who passed away in January 2023, owed substantial amounts on unpaid loans. After Presley’s family did not settle the claims, Naussany Investments sought to enforce a foreclosure sale of Graceland. This case made headlines but was dismissed by a Tennessee judge who determined the provided documents were likely forged.
Additionally, an individual posing as a representative for the scammers communicated with media outlets, claiming that the operation was linked to a group of identity thieves from Nigeria.
As reported earlier, NBC News connected Findley to this fraudulent scheme through a June investigative report which uncovered fake social media profiles and fraudulent communication methods. A former acquaintance of Findley testified before a grand jury, revealing that Findley had shared plans involving a profitable deal linked to Lisa Marie Presley’s residence.
Charging documents indicate that as part of the scheme, Findley forged names, signatures, and notary seals to produce counterfeit loan documents. Furthermore, FBI investigations revealed that Findley had contacted the Shelby County Register’s Office regarding the fictitious Graceland deed and utilized disposable email accounts associated with her phone number to send foreclosure notices to a local newspaper. The inquiry also uncovered that the bank account listed for payments from Naussany Investments was, in fact, Findley’s personal checking account.