MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A federal grand jury heard testimony Tuesday about a fraud scheme that stole the Graceland fortune from Elvis Presley’s family.
Among the witnesses called was Rasheed Jeremy Carballo, a former acquaintance of Lisa Holden, a Branson, Missouri, woman with a long history of fraud, check forgery and other misconduct that led to her serving time in state and federal prison. NBC News first reported Holden’s connections to the Graceland project in June, including false names, post office boxes, phone numbers and fax numbers.
Carvalho, who was Holden’s roommate, previously told NBC News that he had revealed details of a deal to make millions of dollars from the foreclosure of Lisa Marie Presley’s home in early 2024.
Lisa Holden on her porch in June. Micah McCoy, NBC News
Holden did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday and has previously denied knowing anything about the scam.
The Graceland scheme gained international attention in May, when a company called Nowsany Investments filed documents claiming that Elvis’ only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, owed millions of dollars in unpaid loans. Nowsany Investments attempted to force a foreclosure sale of Graceland to recoup the money. A judge dismissed the case, finding that Nowsany Investments’ documents were likely forged. After the attempt failed, individuals claiming to represent the fraudsters sent emails to media outlets, including NBC News, attributing the scheme to a ring of Nigerian identity thieves.
The FBI’s Memphis field office has repeatedly refused to comment on the case, with a spokesperson for the bureau telling NBC News earlier this month that “it is not the FBI’s practice to comment on the existence, potential or prospective of investigations.”
Carballo and Kimberly Philbrick, who claims her name was forged as the notary on the Nausani documents, were seen entering U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz’s office in Memphis federal court on Tuesday morning, saying they were there to testify before a grand jury.
The Odell Horton Federal Building in downtown Memphis houses several federal agencies, including the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. By Ariel J. Covert, NBC News
Carballo declined to comment as he left court. Asked if Holden’s name had come up during cross-examination, Philbrick replied, “Who’s Lisa?” and declined to comment further.
Holden’s domestic partner, Maria Tazbaz, who owns a hardware store, told NBC News in a text message last week that the store’s landlord also received a subpoena. “My business is under scrutiny,” Tazbaz said. “I hope they don’t think I have anything to do with this.”
The landlord did not respond to a request for comment.
According to Philbrick and another witness, the subpoenas came from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which typically investigates crimes related to the mail, including mail fraud, financial fraud and identity theft.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion has been the target of a scam. Ariel J. Covert Kimberly Philbrick visits Graceland on Monday. Ariel J. Covert
Philbrick visited Memphis with friends on Monday and toured the Graceland grounds before testifying before a grand jury on Tuesday. During her tour, she expressed frustration that the estate denied her free admission even though she “saved” Graceland by admitting that her signatures were forged. But her opinion of Presley’s mansion remained unchanged. (Representatives for the Graceland estate did not respond to requests for comment.)
“I could live here,” Philbrick said repeatedly as he toured the house.
Jon Schuppe and Chloe Melas provided assistance.
