A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to federal charges after a failed scheme to auction off Graceland, the iconic home of Elvis Presley, using fraudulent documents and a fabricated lender. Lisa Jeanine Findley admitted in court Tuesday to mail fraud, bringing an end to an elaborate plot that nearly placed the historic Memphis estate under false ownership.
Findley, 61, falsely claimed that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million loan and used Graceland as collateral. Prosecutors say she created phony financial documents and posed as multiple individuals tied to a fake private lender. She then threatened to move forward with an auction unless the Presley estate paid a $2.85 million settlement.
The scheme gained public attention in May 2024 when a foreclosure notice appeared in a Memphis newspaper. Presley’s daughter, actress Riley Keough, quickly filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the claim. A judge blocked the auction and questioned the authenticity of the loan documents, which a notary public later denied ever certifying.
A Missouri woman agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud for her role orchestrating what the authorities described as a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s heirs by claiming ownership of Graceland and threatening to sell it in a foreclosure auction. https://t.co/1MauVtRG4L
— New York Times Music (@nytimesmusic) February 25, 2025
After investigators uncovered the scheme, Findley attempted to deflect responsibility by blaming an international identity theft ring. Federal authorities dismissed her claims, pointing to evidence that she personally created the fraudulent paperwork.
UPDATE: Woman pleads guilty to federal mail fraud charge in plot to sell Graceland https://t.co/EVk8EzZ1P9
— WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) February 25, 2025
Findley initially faced two charges, but under a plea agreement, an aggravated identity theft charge was dropped. She now awaits sentencing on June 18 and could serve up to 20 years in prison, though a reduced sentence is expected.
Graceland, one of the nation’s most famous landmarks, remains in Keough’s possession and continues to welcome visitors from around the world.
