Office of Public Affairs | Woman Charged for Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family

A Missouri lady was arrested this morning on federal expenses in reference to an alleged scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s household of thousands and thousands of {dollars} and steal the household’s possession curiosity in Graceland, the previous house of Elvis Presley, positioned in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lisa Jeanine Findley, also referred to as Lisa Holden, Lisa Howell, Gregory Naussany, Kurt Naussany, Lisa Jeanine Sullins, and Carolyn Williams, 53, of Kimberling Metropolis, Missouri, was charged in a legal grievance unsealed right now after her arrest. Findley will make her preliminary look later right now within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Western District of Missouri.

“As alleged within the grievance, the defendant orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged the historic landmark as collateral for a mortgage that she did not repay earlier than her demise,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Lawyer Basic Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Division’s Prison Division. “As a part of the brazen scheme, we allege that the defendant created quite a few false paperwork and sought to extort a settlement from the Presley household. Now she is dealing with federal expenses. The Prison Division and its companions are dedicated to holding fraudsters to account.”

“As a Memphian, I do know that Graceland is a nationwide treasure,” stated U.S. Lawyer Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to attempt to defraud the Presley household of their curiosity on this singularly necessary landmark. After all, all householders should have their property protected against fraud, and the Division of Justice will vigorously prosecute anybody who commits monetary crimes or id theft.”

In response to court docket paperwork, Findley allegedly posed as three totally different people affiliated with a fictitious personal lender named Naussany Investments & Personal Lending LLC (Naussany Investments). Findley allegedly claimed falsely that Elvis Presley’s daughter had borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 from Naussany Investments, pledged Graceland as collateral for the mortgage, and did not repay the debt. To settle the purported declare, Findley allegedly sought $2.85 million from Elvis Presley’s household. Findley allegedly fabricated mortgage paperwork on which Findley solid the signatures of Elvis Presley’s daughter and a Florida State notary public. Findley then allegedly filed a false creditor’s declare with the Superior Courtroom of California in Los Angeles, and a pretend deed of belief with the Shelby County Register’s Workplace in Memphis. Findley additionally allegedly revealed a fraudulent foreclosures discover in The Industrial Enchantment, considered one of Memphis’s every day newspapers, saying that Naussany Investments deliberate to public sale Graceland to the very best bidder on Might 23. Lastly, when Naussany Investments was sued by Elvis Presley’s household in Tennessee state court docket as a part of an effort to cease the sale of Graceland, Findley allegedly submitted false court docket filings.

After the scheme attracted world media consideration, Findley allegedly wrote to representatives of Elvis Presley’s household, the Tennessee state court docket, and the media to say falsely that the individual accountable for the scheme was a Nigerian id thief positioned in Nigeria.

“Fame and cash are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on one other individual’s movie star standing,” stated Inspector in Cost Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Prison Investigations Group. “On this case, Ms. Findley allegedly took benefit of the very public and tragic occurrences within the Presley household as a chance to prey on the title and monetary standing of the heirs to the Graceland property, trying to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley household for her private achieve. Postal Inspectors and their regulation enforcement companions put an finish to her alleged scheme, defending the Presley household from continued hurt and stress. That is an instance of our relentless investigative work and dedication to bringing criminals to justice for his or her criminality.”

“Immediately’s announcement of expenses and regulation enforcement motion reveals our broad strategy to investigating allegations of id theft and mail fraud, which may have an effect on folks from all walks of life,” stated Particular Agent in Cost Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Area Workplace. “We are going to proceed to vigorously pursue circumstances in opposition to people, in the US and overseas, who would steal an id and use fraud to profit themselves personally.”

Findley is charged with mail fraud and aggravated id theft. If convicted, she faces a compulsory minimal of two years in jail for aggravated id theft and a most penalty of 20 years in jail for mail fraud.

USPIS and the FBI Memphis Area Workplace are investigating the case with important help from the FBI Kansas Metropolis Area Workplace.  

Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Lawyer Christopher Fenton of the Prison Division’s Fraud Part and Assistant U.S. Lawyer Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case, with important help from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Western District of Missouri.

A legal grievance is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt in a court docket of regulation.