The late music legend Elvis Presley’s sprawling Tennessee estate, Graceland, was involved in a bizarre multi-million dollar foreclosure scheme. In May, a Memphis newspaper published a notice saying that an unknown investment firm planned to auction off the landmark later that month. This was an understandable shock to both the singer’s fans and family.
On August 16th, federal prosecutors stated they uncovered a scheme to extort millions of dollars from the Presley family by fraudulently selling the 14-acre estate. They claim that Lisa Findley, posing as several people affiliated with Naussany Investments, told Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter, Riley Keough, that her mother borrowed $3.8 million in 2018. She claimed that the late Lisa Marie had used Graceland as collateral on the loan before defaulting on payments. Findley then supposedly threatened to foreclose on the property in 10 days.
The complaint alleges that she offered the option of a $2.85 million settlement to resolve the loan. This scam unraveled when a lawsuit was filed against the investment firm over fraud claims. This caused the foreclosure sale of Graceland to be blocked and spurned the criminal investigation.
“I know that Graceland is a national treasure,” said Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. “This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to try to defraud the Presley family of their interest in this singularly important landmark.”
Findley, who’s also gone by the last names Howell, Holden, and Sullins, was arrested the same day on charges of aggravated identity theft and mail fraud. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20.
The Scheme to Sell Graceland
The criminal complaint, claims this fraud has taken place across several states and false identities. The scheme involved fabricated loan documents with forged signatures for Lisa Marie and a notary. There are also accusations of her filing creditor’s claims with the Los Angeles Superior Court, and publishing the foreclosure notice in the newspaper, among other fraudulent documents.
“We are now prepared to Foreclose on secured property Graceland and hold Public Auction in 20 (twenty) days,” reads an e-mail from Findley, representing herself as Naussany Investments owner Kurt Naussany, sent to Keough’s lawyers in April. “We have tried relentlessly reaching out and no cooperation.”
A month later, Findley, now supposedly representing herself as Carolyn Williams, a lawyer, sent another message stating that Graceland would be auctioned off if the settlement offer wasn’t accepted. “Bidding takes place May 23, 2024 from 10 am to 12 pm to highest bidder,” the email states.
Once the sale was stopped, Findley wrote to representatives for Presley’s family and the media denying involvement in the scheme. Blaming Naussany and her other fake identity for everything. “I myself did not do the loan, although I have known [Lisa Marie Presley] for many years,” she wrote, as Williams. “I believe Greg Naussany did the loan process. Greg and I are no longer partnered together. I have ventured out, [s]o whoever is filing paperwork may need to look at documents again.” Then she proceeded to blame the scheme on an identity thief in Nigeria.
We will keep you posted on updates about this bizarre scam to sell Graceland as it develops.
