DOJ: Woman Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family
ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Smokey Barn News is dedicated to providing local news, so you might be wondering why we’re covering a national story. While we rarely do, there are exceptions when a local connection exists. In this case, we found one—small as it may be. Our area does have a connection to Elvis Presley, and if you didn’t already know it, you might find the following report interesting. 
THE LOCAL CONNECTION: First, back in 2013, Smokey Barn News was the first news outlet to break the story of the passing of Davada Mae Stanley “Dee” Presley, (pictured above) Elvis Presley’s stepmother, in 2013. Her passing might have gone unnoticed in some circles, but because she lived in Madison, Tennessee, which is parked right on the edge of our coverage area, and she was directly connected to one of the most recognizable names in music history, we felt it was important to report.
For those unfamiliar, Dee Presley was married to Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley, for 17 years. Their marriage came after the death of Elvis’s mother, Gladys Presley, and lasted until shortly after Elvis himself passed away in 1977. Though their relationship was often in the background of the larger Presley story, Dee was part of the Presley family history and remained a notable figure, living in the Middle Tennessee area until her passing. Here is a link to our original report with more photos. 
Now, more than a decade later, the U.S. Department of Justice has sent Smokey Barn News the following press release detailing a case involving an alleged scheme to fraudulently take ownership of Graceland, Elvis Presley’s family home. Given our past reporting on the passing of Dee Presley and our unique (and we concede- somewhat weak) connection to the Presley family, we are sharing the DOJ’s full statement below. Additionally, the FBI Nashville Field Office played a role in the investigation, adding a local connection to this national case.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family
WASHINGTON — A Missouri woman pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee for her role in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and to steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to court documents, Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland — using a fake company, forged documents, and false court filings — by falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death. Findley threatened to foreclose on Graceland and auction it to the highest bidder if Elvis Presley’s family did not pay or settle the claim against the estate.
Findley pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The USPIS and FBI Nashville Field Office are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.
