A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of mail fraud after attempting to sell Graceland, the historic home of Elvis Presley, through a fraudulent foreclosure scheme.
Lisa Jeanine Findley, 61, appeared before a Memphis judge on Tuesday, admitting to fabricating documents and posing as multiple people in an effort to seize control of the estate.
Prosecutors say Findley falsely claimed that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million loan from a fake private lender before her death in January 2023 as detailed here. Using this claim, she allegedly attempted to pressure Presley’s family into paying a $2.85 million settlement to prevent an auction of the Memphis landmark.
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
Findley’s scheme included the creation of forged financial records, fake email accounts, and a foreclosure notice published in a local newspaper. The scam began to fall apart when Presley’s daughter, Riley Keough, filed a lawsuit alleging fraud. A judge halted the sale, questioning the legitimacy of the lender and pointing to sworn testimony from a notary public who denied any involvement in notarizing the alleged loan.
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
Federal investigators uncovered additional irregularities, including Findley’s use of multiple false identities in her correspondence. When confronted with the evidence, she attempted to deflect blame, claiming that a Nigerian fraud ring had orchestrated the plot.
Findley had originally pleaded not guilty to two charges, but as part of a plea deal, the aggravated identity theft count was dropped. She now awaits sentencing on June 18, where she could face a maximum of 20 years in prison. However, legal experts expect her sentence to be significantly reduced under the agreement.
Elvis Presley’s estate remains in the control of Keough, who inherited the property after her mother’s passing. Graceland, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, continues to operate as a museum and tribute to the late music legend.
