The Woman Who Tried to Steal Graceland: The Fraud Scheme That Nearly Cost Elvis Presley’s Family Millions
Learn more about the elaborate scheme that almost resulted in a fake foreclosure sale of Graceland
Since its 1982 public opening, Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee, has continued to draw in visitors. But the ownership of the property was nearly in jeopardy last year when one Missouri woman attempted to defraud the Presley family out of the property. Now, the scam artist has been sentenced for the attempted swindling that would have cost the family millions of dollars. Keep reading to learn more about the woman who tried to steal Graceland.
The charges for the Graceland scheme
Lisa Jeanine Findley of Kimberling City, Missouri pleaded guilty on February 25 for her role in a complex scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland. As part of the scheme, the 54-year-old attempted to defraud the iconic singer’s family out of millions of dollars, as well as their ownership interest in the property.
On September 23, 2025, a federal judge in Memphis sentenced Findley to 57 months in prison (plus three years probation) for the single count of mail fraud. When someone is convicted of the federal crime of mail fraud, they face up to a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Though the court process for Findley has come to an end, the story of her shocking scheme came to light last summer.
The story of how she tried to defraud Elvis Presley’s family
In May 2024, the Associated Press reported that a public notice was posted for a foreclosure sale of the 13-acre Graceland estate. The notice alleged that Promenade Trust, which runs the Graceland Museum, owed $3.8 million after failing to repay a 2018 loan. The money collected from the sale would be used as repayment.
However, a judge halted the sale before it could take place because Promenade Trust argued the sale was fraudulent and based on fake documents. From there, the mystery only grew, with people around the world wondering who was behind the attempted sale of the beloved tourist attraction.
Initially, a company called Naussany Investments was linked to the attempted sale, but it was quickly determined the company was fake. Then in June, NBC News revealed more about the crime and Findley’s elaborate plot. “More than half a dozen links seemed to separately connect Lisa with the foiled attempt at Graceland, including phone and fax numbers, post office boxes and fake personas,” the reporters wrote.
Kurt Nassauny, an executive for the phony Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC, was the name attached to the emails sent to the estate of Lisa Marie Presley. But the only traces of that name online were for a variety of reviews that turned out to be written by Findley.
Another name that kept popping up? Carolyn Naussany, who was listed as a “senior collection officer” for the fake company in the forged loan documents. Findley had been using that persona to create a Facebook account and leave reviews for small businesses, some with personal insults, accusations and even threats. The trail of digital clues led investigators to link the Branson, Missouri grandmother to the fraudulent sale.
Two months after NBC News confronted her at her door about the Graceland scheme, federal authorities charged Findley with fraud.
More about Lisa Findley
The elaborate scheme may seem complicated to the average person, but for Findley—who had a long history of romance scams and bank fraud—it was just another attempt to swindle money.
Court records show that in 2006 she was sentenced to 20 months in prison for “False Statement to Obtain a Bank Loan.” Despite receiving five years of supervised release after committing the crime, she was sentenced to another six months for failing to appear.
From there, Findley bounced around the South (often without notifying her probation officer) while swindling more money and failing to make payments. Once she settled in Missouri, the Graceland scheme was quickly underway.
Since authorities were able to track her down, her string of crimes has hopefully come to an end. Even more important: Graceland remains open to visitors and in the right hands.
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