This photo taken on March 13, 2017 shows visitors preparing to tour Graceland in Memphis, Tenn.
Beth J. Harpaz/AP
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Beth J. Harpaz/AP
A Missouri woman was arrested Friday on suspicion of trying to defraud millions of dollars from the estate of Elvis Presley and take ownership of the iconic Graceland estate in Memphis.
The case attracted national attention earlier this year when Presley’s niece, actress Danielle Riley Keough, sued the alleged scammerLisa Jeanine Findley, to stop the complex’s mortgage auction.
American singer and film star Elvis Presley in 1975. He died on August 16, 1977.
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Keystone/Getty Images
“As alleged in complaint“The defendant orchestrated a scheme to effect the fraudulent sale of Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had mortgaged the historic property as collateral for a loan she failed to repay before her death,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri.
“As part of a brazen conspiracy, we allege that the defendant created numerous forged documents and attempted to extort money from the Presley family. She now faces federal charges.”
The complaint says Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, Missouri, impersonated three different individuals to impersonate a nonexistent private lending company, Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC.
Claiming that Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had defaulted on a $3.8 million loan, Findley allegedly demanded $2.85 million from the family and falsified documents, including a fake trust deed.
When details of the scheme came to light, the complaint says Findley wrote to the Presley family and the court, claiming the real scammer was a Nigerian identity thief.
“Findley allegedly used a very public and tragic incident in the Presley family as an opportunity to exploit the names and financial situations of the heirs to the Graceland estate, attempting to steal what rightfully belonged to the Presley family for her own personal gain,” said Eric Chen, inspector in charge of the Criminal Investigations Group of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Findley is scheduled to make an initial appearance Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
