PHOTO: Riley Keough Is the New Owner of Grandfather Elvis’ Graceland
Prosecutors have labeled a recent case involving Graceland as a “brazen scheme” to steal a “national treasure.” On May 19, a 460-word notice in Memphis’ daily newspaper announced that Elvis Presley’s famed Graceland estate was facing foreclosure and would be auctioned just four days later at the county courthouse. Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter, intervened successfully, halting the sale and accusing the Missouri-based moneylending company behind the plot of attempting to swindle her out of her inheritance.
THIS IS GRACELAND, ELVIS PRESLEY’S MANSION, WHERE HIS DAUGHTER LISA MARIE WILL BE BURIED
Nearly three months later, prosecutors allege that Lisa Jeanine Findley, a 53-year-old from Kimberling City, Missouri, orchestrated the scheme. Findley is accused of impersonating various employees of a fictitious private moneylender, claiming that Elvis’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had secured a multimillion-dollar loan using Graceland as collateral before her death. On Friday, Findley faced charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in the US District Court for Western Missouri, with potential prison time ranging from two to 22 years.
On Location At Graceland: Priscilla Presley Gives Exclusive Tour | WATCH
US Attorney Kevin Ritz emphasized the significance of Graceland, stating, “Graceland is a national treasure,” and condemning Findley’s alleged attempt to defraud the Presley family of their valuable asset. The Graceland mansion, built in 1939 and purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Since opening to the public in 1982, it has attracted over 20 million visitors.
Lisa Marie Presley dead at 54 – How did she lose all the Elvis millions? | WATCH
Findley’s alleged scheme began six months after Lisa Marie Presley’s death in January 2023. According to an affidavit, Findley created a fraudulent email address and pretended to be Kurt Naussany, the chief lending officer at a non-existent company. She claimed that Presley had defaulted on a $3.8 million loan, with Graceland pledged as collateral. Despite presenting forged documents, including a promissory note and deed of trust, the FBI uncovered their falsity.
In September, Naussany filed a collections claim in Los Angeles County court, and on May 19, a public foreclosure notice was published. Riley Keough’s legal team intervened, successfully blocking the sale by arguing the documents were forgeries and the entity behind the claim was fraudulent.
Elvis Presley’s secret home finally revealed as it goes up for sale
In a twist, a person claiming to be Gregory Naussany later contacted news outlets, alleging involvement in a broader identity theft ring. However, further investigation by the FBI revealed that Findley was behind the fraudulent activities. She made her first court appearance on Friday and remains in custody, awaiting transfer to the Western District of Tennessee for further proceedings.
SOURCE: NZHERALD