A Missouri woman named Lisa Jeanine Findley has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of mail fraud. She was accused of concocting a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley's family by attempting to auction off Graceland, the iconic mansion and property in Memphis, Tennessee.
Findley falsely claimed that Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had borrowed $3.8 million from a bogus private lender and pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan. She then threatened to sell Graceland to the highest bidder if Presley's family didn't pay a $2.85 million settlement.
Findley posed as three different people allegedly involved with the fake lender, fabricated loan documents, and published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper announcing the auction of Graceland. A judge stopped the sale after Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, sued.
Keough inherited Graceland after the death of her mother in January 2023. She filed a lawsuit claiming fraud, and a judge halted the proposed auction with an injunction. Keough's lawsuit alleged that the bogus lender presented fraudulent documents regarding the loan and that Lisa Marie Presley never borrowed money from them.
The judge said the notary's affidavit brings into question "the authenticity of the signature." He halted the foreclosure sale of Graceland, saying Elvis Presley's estate could be successful in arguing that the company's attempt to auction Graceland was fraudulent.
Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 and died there in 1977. The mansion was opened to the public as a museum and tourist attraction five years later. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the 17,552-square-foot mansion each year. Elvis and other members of the Presley family are buried on the mansion's grounds.
Keough, who starred in the television series "Daisy Jones and The Six," said in a 2024 interview with CBS News that she plans to continue running Graceland and keep the mansion in the family. She and her husband have a daughter, Tupelo, who is Elvis' first great-grandchild.
14 Comments
Rotfront
“The judge’s decision is a huge win for preserving history. Graceland is a monument that deserves respect.”
Karamba
“Someone should lock up this schemer for good. No amount of money is worth desecrating a family’s heritage.”
Matzomaster
“Protection of Graceland shows that we value cultural icons over quick cash scams. Well done, everyone!”
Karamba
“It’s heartening to see the rightful owners and the court safeguarding this iconic landmark with integrity.”
Matzomaster
“Kudos to Riley Keough and the entire Presley family for standing up against this criminal fraud.”
Coccinella
“Seeing the family and the court protect Graceland is proof that history always wins over fraud.”
Bella Ciao
“I’m outraged that such fraudulent antics were even attempted on one of America’s cultural landmarks.”
ArtemK
“This sordid scam shows there are still people out there who will stop at nothing to exploit even the most sacred symbols.”
Stan Marsh
“This con is a slap in the face to everyone who respects history and the legacy of an icon.”
Coccinella
“A disturbing example of greed—defrauding the Presley family over their beloved home is just despicable.”
Africa
“The brave action by Elvis’s family and the legal system reminds us that legacy matters more than greed.”
Coccinella
“I’m appalled that anyone would try to auction off Graceland using lies and forged documents.”
Bella Ciao
“It sickens me to see fraudsters using family tragedy as an opportunity to scam unsuspecting people.”
Comandante
“I’m relieved the fraudulent scheme was halted. The Presley family’s commitment to legacy preservation is admirable.”