A Missouri woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Memphis federal court after admitting to a scheme to fraudulently claim ownership of Graceland, Elvis Presley’s iconic home. Lisa Jeanine Findley, 61, was charged with mail fraud after she attempted to stage a bogus foreclosure sale of the famed estate.
Authorities say Findley concocted a story that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million loan from a lender that did not exist as detailed here. Using forged documents, she attempted to pressure the Presley estate into paying a $2.85 million settlement or risk losing Graceland to auction. She even went so far as to publish a foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper.
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
Riley Keough, who inherited Graceland after her mother’s passing in 2023, swiftly filed a lawsuit challenging the foreclosure. A judge blocked the sale and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the loan, pointing to inconsistencies in the paperwork. A listed notary denied any involvement, further discrediting Findley’s claims.
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
Federal investigators revealed that Findley had impersonated multiple individuals in her scheme. When confronted with evidence, she attempted to shift blame, claiming a foreign identity theft operation had carried out the fraud. However, prosecutors presented clear proof linking her directly to the forged documents.
Findley was charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, but the latter charge was dropped as part of a plea deal. She could receive up to 20 years in prison at her sentencing on June 18, though her sentence will likely be lower.
Graceland remains under Keough’s control and continues to be one of the most visited homes in the country. The estate serves as a museum honoring Elvis Presley’s legacy and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
