A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty in a sophisticated scheme to fraudulently auction off Elvis Presley's iconic Graceland mansion. Lisa Jeanine Findley faces federal mail fraud charges for attempting to sell the property using falsified documents and multiple fake identities.

Photo Credit: Graceland Mansion by Joseph Novak / CC by 2.0

The scheme involved Findley creating a fictitious $3.8 million loan supposedly taken by Lisa Marie Presley, with Graceland as collateral. She then attempted to force a $2.85 million settlement payment by threatening an auction of the property. Findley impersonated three different individuals and created fake documents, including a fraudulent foreclosure notice.

Riley Keough, Elvis Presley's granddaughter and current owner of Graceland, filed a lawsuit exposing the fraud. The lawsuit revealed that the supposed notary, Kimberly Philbrick, had never met Lisa Marie Presley or notarized any related documents. A judge subsequently halted the auction with an injunction.

Through a plea deal, Findley will face a reduced sentence compared to the initial 20-year maximum penalty. The aggravated identity theft charge has been dropped, with sentencing scheduled for June 18.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who escalated the investigation to federal authorities, praised the resolution: "Graceland matters so much to so many people around the world. All of Tennessee is glad that Graceland remains safely in the possession of Elvis' heir and that it will remain a celebrated Memphis landmark for generations to come."

Graceland, which opened as a museum in 1982, continues to attract thousands of visitors annually and remains one of America's most significant cultural landmarks, complete with a Presley-themed entertainment complex across the street owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

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