A Missouri girl was arrested this morning on federal expenses in reference to an alleged scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s household of hundreds of 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 prison criticism unsealed right now after her arrest. Findley will make her preliminary look later right now within the U.S. District Court docket for the Western District of Missouri.
“As alleged within the criticism, 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 didn’t repay earlier than her demise,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Legal professional Common Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Division’s Legal 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 going through federal expenses. The Legal 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. Legal professional 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 essential landmark. In fact, all householders need to have their property shielded from fraud, and the Division of Justice will vigorously prosecute anybody who commits monetary crimes or identification theft.”
In keeping with court docket paperwork, Findley allegedly posed as three completely 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 didn’t 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 Court docket of California in Los Angeles, and a faux deed of belief with the Shelby County Register’s Workplace in Memphis. Findley additionally allegedly printed a fraudulent foreclosures discover in The Industrial Attraction, one among Memphis’s day by day newspapers, asserting 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 particular person liable for the scheme was a Nigerian identification thief positioned in Nigeria.
“Fame and cash are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on one other particular person’s superstar standing,” stated Inspector in Cost Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Legal 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, making an attempt 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 criminal activity.”
“In the present day’s announcement of expenses and regulation enforcement motion exhibits our broad method to investigating allegations of identification theft and mail fraud, which may have an effect on individuals from all walks of life,” stated Particular Agent in Cost Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Subject Workplace. “We are going to proceed to vigorously pursue instances towards people, in america and overseas, who would steal an identification and use fraud to learn themselves personally.”
Findley is charged with mail fraud and aggravated identification theft. If convicted, she faces a compulsory minimal of two years in jail for aggravated identification theft and a most penalty of 20 years in jail for mail fraud.
USPIS and the FBI Memphis Subject Workplace are investigating the case with important help from the FBI Kansas Metropolis Subject Workplace.
Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Legal professional Christopher Fenton of the Legal Division’s Fraud Part and Assistant U.S. Legal professional Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case, with important help from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Western District of Missouri.
A prison criticism is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a court docket of regulation.