A Missouri woman has been arrested and indicted in connection with a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family out of “millions of dollars” and “attempt to steal the family’s ownership interests,” according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Department of Justice Announced In a press release on Friday, the report said Lisa Janine Findley was charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly posing as three different people affiliated with a fictitious private lender called “Nowsunny Investments & Private Lending LLC.”
Findlay allegedly claimed that Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had used Graceland as collateral for a $3.8 million loan.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendants schemed to fraudulently sell Graceland by falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged the historic property as collateral for a loan that she was unable to repay during her lifetime,” Principal Deputy Attorney General Nicole Argentieri said in a statement.
Presley, known for songs such as “Always on My Mind” and “Burning Love,” purchased Graceland in 1957 for more than $100,000, according to Graceland records. Website.
Graceland’s guests at different times were family and friends. Some stayed in the mansion, while others stayed in accommodations elsewhere on the property. Although Elvis had several homes around Los Angeles and spent a lot of time giving concerts, Graceland was always his home base. This was a constant in Elvis Presley’s life.
According to court documents, Findlay alleged that Presley’s daughter “pledged Graceland as collateral” for a fake $1 million loan and “falsified loan documents.”
“To settle the claims, Findley allegedly sought $2.85 million from Elvis Presley’s family,” court documents state. “Findley allegedly forged loan documents and forged the signatures of Elvis Presley’s daughter and a Florida notary public.”
According to court documents, Findlay also allegedly “filed false creditor claims in the Superior Court of the State of California sitting in Los Angeles,” filed a false trust deed with the Shelby County Recorder of Deeds in Memphis and “published a false foreclosure notice” in one Memphis newspaper.
According to a Department of Justice press release, the fake foreclosure notices claimed that Nowsany Investments was planning to auction Graceland.
“As a Memphian, I know that Graceland is a national treasure,” Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, said in a statement. “The defendants allegedly hatched a brazen scheme to defraud the Presley family of their rights to this incredibly important landmark. Of course, all homeowners have a right to be protected from fraud in their property, and the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute those who commit financial crimes and identity theft.”
If convicted, Findlay faces a minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud, according to the press release.
