Texas influencer sentenced to 10 years in prison for murder-for-hire plot

A Dallas, Texas, woman named Ashley Grayson, who operated an online business, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme. Grayson, 35, was known for her internet-based business and had gained notoriety through her online presence, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee.

Describing herself on Instagram as a bestseller, eight-figure business coach, course creator, and philanthropist, Grayson found herself embroiled in a conflict with a woman from Southaven, Mississippi, in 2021. This woman, who ran a similar online business, became the target of Grayson’s murder-for-hire plot.

The feud between the two women escalated when Grayson believed that the Southaven woman was creating fake online profiles to criticize her and her business, despite never meeting in person. In August 2022, Grayson lured a Memphis woman, with whom she had previously worked, to Dallas under the guise of a “business opportunity.”

Upon arriving in Dallas with her husband, the Memphis couple met with Grayson and her husband, Joshua. Grayson offered to pay them to carry out the murders of the Southaven woman, Grayson’s ex-boyfriend, and a Texas woman who had recently posted negative comments about Grayson on social media. She promised at least $20,000 for each killing.

During a video call on September 10, 2022, the Memphis woman recorded Grayson confirming her desire to have the Southaven woman killed promptly and even offering an additional $5,000 if the deed was done within a week. Subsequently, the Memphis couple sent Grayson a photo of police lights from an unrelated incident in Memphis to feign an unsuccessful attempt at carrying out the killings. They demanded $10,000, half of the promised amount, from Grayson.

The Memphis couple then traveled to Dallas, met with Grayson and her husband, and received $10,000 as payment for the supposed “attempt.” In July 2023, a grand jury in Tennessee indicted Grayson and her husband for using an interstate facility in the commission of murder-for-hire. The case went to trial in March of the following year, resulting in Grayson’s conviction while her husband was acquitted.

In her sentencing last month, Grayson received the maximum sentence of 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Being a federal case, she is not eligible for parole. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren remarked that the crime was a product of online disputes spilling into the real world, with Grayson trying to orchestrate a murder over internet-related conflicts.

Fortunately, no physical harm came to anyone in this case. However, the victim and her family suffered significant emotional distress due to Grayson’s actions. The prompt intervention of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors thwarted a potentially tragic outcome.

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