Woman Tries to Steal Elvis' Graceland Home
Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. Photo courtesy of Joseph Novak under CC BY 2.0.
In a bizarre twist of events, a Missouri woman attempted to pull off a high-stakes con that involved stealing the ownership of Elvis Presley's legendary Graceland estate. What began as an elaborate scheme to defraud the Presley family quickly unraveled, leading to federal charges and a headline-grabbing arrest. Here's how it all went down.
The Scheme Unfolds
Lisa Jeanine Findley, who has a history of small-time scams, took her ambitions to a new level by targeting Graceland, the Memphis home of Elvis Presley. Using a web of fake identities, forged documents, and fraudulent claims, she tried to extort millions from the Presley family. Findley alleged that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' only child, had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan — a loan that supposedly went unpaid before her death in January 2023. She then attempted to force a foreclosure sale of Graceland to collect on the fabricated debt.
The Legal Takedown
The scheme began to fall apart when a judge in Tennessee dismissed the foreclosure case, citing the likely forgery of Naussany Investments' documents — the shell company Findley used in her plot. As investigators dug deeper, they found a trail of evidence linking Findley to the fraud. FBI agents discovered that the phone numbers and emails used to submit the foreclosure notices were connected to Findley. Even more damning, the bank account listed for the supposed payment was tied directly to her personal checking account.
The Arrest and Aftermath
Law enforcement officials arrested Findley at her home in Missouri, where she was later charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Despite her previous denials, the evidence against her was overwhelming, leading to her appearance in court, where she waived her right to preliminary hearings. Now facing serious federal charges, Findley's failed attempt to steal one of America's most iconic landmarks serves as a cautionary tale of how even the most audacious scams can unravel.
This case highlights the lengths some will go to exploit fame and legacy, but in the end, justice prevailed.
References: Missouri woman charged in alleged scheme to steal Graceland and extort Elvis Presley family | Woman Charged In Alleged Scheme To Sell Elvis Presley's Graceland Home
