Federal grand jury hears testimony on scam to steal Graceland from Elvis Presley’s family

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A federal grand jury heard testimony Tuesday about a scam to steal the Graceland estate from Elvis Presley’s family. The subpoenaed witnesses included Rasheed Jeremy Carballo, a former acquaintance of Lisa Holden. Holden is a Branson, Missouri, woman with a long history of scams, forged checks and fraud, for which she served time in state and federal prisons. NBC News first reported on the connections between Holden and the Graceland plot in June: They include a roster of fake personas, post office boxes, and phone and fax numbers. Carballo, who was Holden’s roommate, previously told NBC News that in early 2024 she had shared details about a deal to get millions of dollars from a foreclosure involving Lisa Marie Presley’s house. Lisa Holden on her porch in June. Micah McCoy for NBC News Holden did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday and previously denied knowing anything about the scam. The Graceland scheme made international headlines in May. A company with the name Naussany Investments filed documents claiming that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child, owed millions of dollars in unpaid loans. Naussany Investments attempted to force a foreclosure sale of Graceland to collect. A judge tossed the case, finding Naussany Investments’ documents had likely been forged. Following the foiled attempt, someone claiming to represent the scammers emailed media outlets, including NBC News, saying a ring of Nigerian identity thieves were responsible for the scheme. The FBI’s Memphis field office has repeatedly declined to comment on the case. A spokesperson for the agency told NBC News earlier this month, “It is not the practice of the FBI to comment on the existence, possibility, or likelihood of an investigation.” Carballo and Kimberly Philbrick, who said her name had been forged as a notary on the Naussany documents, were both seen Tuesday morning going into U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz’s office at the Memphis federal courthouse. They said they were there to testify before the grand jury. The Odell Horton Federal Building, in downtown Memphis, houses several federal offices, including the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Ariel J. Cobbert for NBC News Carballo declined to comment upon leaving the courtroom. Philbrick, when asked if Holden’s name came up during questioning, replied “Lisa who?” and declined to comment further. Holden’s live-in partner, Maria Tazbaz, who operates a hardware store, told NBC News by text last week that her shop’s landlord had also been subpoenaed. “My business is being scrutinized,” Tazbaz said. “I hope they don’t think I have anything to do with this.” The landlord did not respond to requests for comment. Subpoenas had been issued by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, according to Philbrick and another witness. Generally, postal inspectors investigate crimes connected to the mail, including mail fraud, financial fraud and identity theft. Elvis Presley's Graceland estate was the target of a scam. Ariel J. Cobbert Kimberley Philbrick visits Graceland on Monday. Ariel J. Cobbert Philbrick was in Memphis on Monday with a friend to tour the Graceland estate before testifying before the grand jury on Tuesday. She expressed frustration during the tour that the estate had declined to grant her complimentary admission when she had helped “save” Graceland by confirming that her signature had been forged. That didn’t sour her appreciation for Presley’s home. (A representative for the Graceland estate did not respond to a request for comment.) “I could live here,” Philbrick repeatedly said while touring the mansion.