Some people collect Elvis memorabilia. Others visit Graceland to bask in The King’s glory. And then there’s Lisa Jeanine Findley, who allegedly tried to straight-up steal Graceland like it was a clearance item at a thrift store.
Findley pleaded guilty to mail fraud (because apparently, the 21st century’s greatest crime-fighting force is still the U.S. Postal Service). However, she managed to dodge an aggravated identity theft charge, meaning she won’t be sentenced for committing the criminal equivalent of playing dress-up.
The Scam That Was So Bad It Was Almost Impressive
Here’s the wild story: Findley claimed Lisa Marie Presley (yes, that Lisa Marie Presley) borrowed a casual $3.8 million and used Graceland as collateral before she sadly passed away in 2023. Naturally, Findley then threatened to auction off Elvis’ beloved mansion if the Presley family didn’t cough up the cash.
Enter Riley Keough, Lisa Marie’s daughter, who immediately smelled something fishy (and not in a good fried catfish way). She sued the pants off the company involved, claiming their loan documents were faker than an Elvis impersonator at a Vegas wedding. A judge took one look and shut the whole thing down.
Meanwhile, the FBI got involved, because—surprise!—stealing a national landmark is kinda illegal.
The Receipts Weren’t Receipting
Turns out, Lisa Marie never took out a $3.8 million loan (shocking, right?). And the notary who supposedly “witnessed” her signing these sketchy documents said, “Lisa Marie who? Never met her in my life.” Which is not the testimonial you want when pulling off a scam of this scale.
The Most Creative Excuse Ever
Faced with mounting evidence that she was, in fact, not the criminal mastermind she thought she was, Findley tried a classic defense:
“A Nigerian scammer did it!”
That’s right—she attempted to blame a completely fictional Nigerian identity thief for the entire scheme. Because nothing says innocence like pointing to an imaginary international con artist.
The Consequences: Jailhouse Rock Awaits
Originally, Findley was looking at up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud and a mandatory 2-year stint for identity theft. Now, she’s set to be sentenced in June for the fraud charge alone.
If you’re going to try and steal a dead rock legend’s house, maybe—just maybe—come up with a better plan than this one. Because the Presley estate wasn’t about to let Graceland go down like a hound dog crying all the time. 🎸😂
