A woman has been accused of trying to auction off Elvis Presley’s former home Graceland and defraud the singer’s family out of millions of dollars.
Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, was arrested and charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a criminal complaint.
If convicted of the mail fraud charge, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
She has appeared in court in Springfield, Missouri, accused of orchestrating a scheme to steal the Presley family’s ownership interest in the music legend’s mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.
Image: Lisa Jeanine Findley. Pic: NBC News
Findley, of Kimberling City, Missouri, is alleged to have falsely claimed the superstar’s only daughter Lisa Marie Presley borrowed $3.8m (£2.9m) from a bogus lender in 2018.
Naussany Investments and Private Lending, allegedly created by Findley, claimed that before her death last year Lisa Marie had used Graceland as collateral in the loan, which was never paid back.
Findley then threatened to sell Graceland to the higher bidder if the family did not pay a $2.85m (£2.2m) settlement, according to authorities.
Prosecutors also say Findley posed as three different people allegedly involved with the fake lender.
She allegedly fabricated loan documents, and published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper announcing the auction of Graceland in May, according to prosecutors.
A judge blocked the auction that month after the singer’s granddaughter Riley Keough filed a lawsuitto fight what she claimed was a fraudulent scheme.
Ms Keough, who is an actress, inherited the trust and ownership of the home in Memphis after the death of Ms Presley.
Image: Lisa Marie Presley. Pic: Reuters
In the lawsuit, the notary whose name is listed on Naussany’s documents indicated she never met Ms Presley nor notarised any documents for her.
Eric Shen, from the US Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group, alleged Findley “took advantage of the very public and tragic occurrences in the Presley family as an opportunity to prey on the name and financial status of the heirs to the Graceland estate”.
He added the 53-year-old was “attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain”.
Graceland opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982 as a tribute to Elvis, five years after the “King of Rock and Roll” died aged 42 in 1977.
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He bought Graceland Mansion in 1957 and lived there until his death.
It now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and a large Elvis-themed entertainment complex across the road from the museum is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
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