Texas Influencer Ashley Grayson Receives Maximum Sentence For Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting 3 People

Ashley Grayson, a 35-year-old social media influencer from Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot targeting three individuals.
BLAVITY

Background and Motive

Grayson gained prominence through her online business, where she taught others how to monetize their skills. In 2021, she developed a rivalry with a woman from Southaven, Mississippi, who operated a similar business. Grayson suspected this woman of creating fake online profiles to criticize her and her enterprise.

The Murder-for-Hire Plot

In August 2022, Grayson contacted a Memphis woman she had previously collaborated with, inviting her and her husband to Dallas under the guise of discussing a business opportunity. During their meeting in September 2022, Grayson offered the couple $20,000 for each of three murders:

• The Southaven business rival.

• Her former boyfriend.

• A Texas woman who had recently posted negative comments about her on social media.

Grayson even offered an additional $5,000 for the expedited killing of the Southaven woman within a week.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Intervention and Legal Proceedings

Instead of carrying out the murders, the Memphis couple reported Grayson's intentions to law enforcement. They provided authorities with a recorded video call in which Grayson confirmed her desire to have the Southaven woman killed promptly. To further deceive Grayson, the couple sent her a photo of police lights from an unrelated incident, claiming it was evidence of an attempted but failed murder. Grayson paid them $10,000 for this supposed attempt.

In July 2023, a grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted both Ashley and her husband, Joshua Grayson, on charges of using interstate facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. The trial commenced in March 2024, resulting in Ashley Grayson's conviction, while her husband was acquitted. On October 31, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Ashley Grayson to 120 months in prison, the maximum penalty for her offense.

Official Statements

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren described the case as a "twenty-first-century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world." He emphasized that, although no physical harm occurred, the intended victims and their families suffered significant emotional distress due to Grayson's actions. Fondren commended the swift response of investigative agencies and prosecutors, which prevented a more severe crime from taking place.

Conclusion

Ashley Grayson's case underscores the potential real-world dangers stemming from online disputes and the severe legal consequences of attempting to resolve such conflicts through criminal activities.