June 14, 2024, 9:19 PM UTC
BRANSON, Mo. — The search for the elusive entity behind a plot to seize Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate recently led to a quiet city near the Ozark Mountains. The investigation traced a winding path through decades, state lines, internet profiles, criminal records, and old memories.
The saga began with a bold scheme that made international headlines in May. Naussany Investments, a seemingly non-existent company run by fictitious individuals, filed a claim to take control of Graceland, alleging an unpaid debt. They claimed Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child, owed them millions in unpaid loans. After failing to collect from her estate, they sought to foreclose on the historic Memphis mansion.
The documents supporting Naussany Investments’ case were clearly forged. Within days, a judge halted the foreclosure sale, and the scammers admitted their plot. Posing as “Kurt Naussany,” “Gregory Naussany,” and “Carolyn Williams,” the scammers confessed to NBC News and other outlets, dropping their charade. Emails from someone calling himself Gregory Naussany revealed they were part of a ring of Nigerian identity thieves, boasting they would continue preying on people without fear of capture.
This confession seemed to close the legal drama, now under investigation by the Tennessee attorney general. However, the story didn’t end there. The forged documents contained clues leading not to West Africa, but to Branson, Missouri, where a convoluted dispute on Facebook and in local courts bore surprising connections to the Naussany case.
Branson, located over 270 miles from Graceland, hosts an annual Elvis festival and features a Mount Rushmore-like attraction of “the King.” These connections led to a grandmother in Branson, a con woman with a long history of romance scams, forged checks, and bank fraud. Known by various names, including Lisa Holden, Howell, Findley, and Sullins, she has a decades-long rap sheet and has served time in state and federal prison.
Lisa Holden, found through Facebook and Google, appeared to use the name Naussany to post reviews. Numerous links connected her to the Graceland plot, including phone and fax numbers, post office boxes, and fake personas. Those who know Lisa describe her as a determined scammer, posing as various personas, including a wealthy heiress, a cannabis entrepreneur, and an underwater welder.
In late summer, Kurt Naussany, an executive for Naussany Investments, began emailing Lisa Marie Presley’s estate, demanding payment on a $3.8 million loan allegedly taken out in 2018, with Graceland as collateral. The estate’s lawyers identified the documents as forged and filed a complaint to stop the foreclosure sale. It quickly became clear that Kurt Naussany did not exist, nor did the name Naussany appear in any public records.
While Kurt and Carolyn Williams, Naussany’s “senior collection officer,” didn’t exist in reality, they had an online presence. A Google review from “Kurt Naussany” warned of fraud at a Tulsa car dealership, and a Facebook profile for “Carloyn Naussany” posted negative reviews about a local nail salon.
The nail salon, NV Nails, was targeted with fake reviews and harassment, allegedly orchestrated by Lisa Holden. The salon owners received texts from someone claiming to be “Carolyn,” a Missouri state investigator, threatening legal action on behalf of a former employee, Rasheed Jeremy Carballo. The harassment included fake reviews, texts, and emails from various personas.
Carballo, a recent immigrant from Belize, had befriended Lisa at a local Starbucks. After a falling out with the salon owners, Lisa offered him support, which expanded to include the harassment campaign. Carballo insisted he wasn’t part of the harassment, claiming Lisa was behind the constant emails, texts, and reviews.
Lisa’s involvement in the Graceland plot became evident through various connections. Carballo’s court filings listed an address provided by Lisa, which matched the address used by Naussany Investments in their claim against Presley’s estate. Additionally, the same fax number and phone number appeared in both the nail salon harassment and the Graceland foreclosure documents.
Carballo, who lived with Lisa for about five months, said she talked about a foreclosure deal involving Lisa Marie Presley’s house and a plan to get millions of dollars. After being interviewed by NBC News, Carballo went to the FBI with what he knew. The FBI declined to comment on any investigations.
Carballo left Branson in February, moving to Illinois. Meanwhile, Naussany’s attempt at a Graceland foreclosure continued. On Facebook, the Carloyn Naussany account posted about an Easter Bunny event, with photos later shared by Lisa from her personal account.
Lisa’s ex-husband, Steven Sullins, described her as a professional forger and con artist, comparing her to the character in the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Lisa’s son, Steve, said she wasn’t a reliable parent but kept in touch. He mentioned Lisa’s talk of a trust fund from a marriage to a Kurt Howell, a name with no public records.
Lisa’s criminal history began in 1997 with a bogus check arrest. Over the next 20 years, she faced various charges, including fraud and running con games. In 2005, she was federally charged for using fake Social Security numbers to obtain loans, resulting in a 20-month sentence and restitution.
Despite being on supervised parole, Lisa continued committing crimes, including faking cancer for sympathy and stealing checks. Her parole officer noted a pattern of defrauding boyfriends, leading to her re-incarceration. Lisa’s sister, Linda, also faced legal troubles for a sophisticated investment scam, netting millions through a fake hedge fund.
Linda’s crimes involved luring victims into investing in a fake hedge fund with promises of high returns. Instead of investing, she spent the money on travel, tickets, and luxury items. When investors sued, she used a $5 million investment from a lottery winner to pay them off, turning the scam into a Ponzi scheme. The FBI indicted her in 2010.
