Dallas influencer sentenced to 10 years for murder-for-hire scheme
- Ashley Grayson attempted to hire a couple to commit three murders, including her ex-boyfriend and a business rival.
- She was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a jury trial, while her husband was acquitted.
- The case highlights the dangers of online disputes escalating into real-world violence and the serious legal repercussions that follow.
In October 2024, a federal court in Dallas sentenced Ashley Grayson to 10 years in prison for her involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme. This case stemmed from events that began in August 2022 when Grayson, a Dallas influencer with a background in running an online business, contacted a couple from Memphis to discuss a 'business opportunity.' The meeting revealed Grayson's disturbing intentions to pay the couple to kill three individuals: a competitor from Southaven, Missouri, her ex-boyfriend, and a Texan woman who had posted negative comments about her on social media. Each murder was set at a price of $20,000. On September 10, 2022, the Memphis woman recorded a crucial phone call in which Grayson confirmed her desire for the competitor to be killed 'as soon as possible' and even offered an extra $5,000 for the murder to be completed within a week. Grayson's motivations appeared to emanate from an online rivalry and a personal vendetta, showcasing how social media disputes can spill over into real-world consequences. The Memphis couple, after not carrying out the heinous act, instead sent Grayson a deceptive photograph of police lights to fabricate a story of an unsuccessful attempt, demanding $10,000 from her as compensation for their 'efforts.' This alarming turn of events caught the attention of authorities, and in July 2023, the grand jury indicted both Ashley Grayson and her husband, Joshua Grayson, for using interstate facilities to facilitate their crime. Though Joshua was acquitted after a week-long trial in March 2024, Ashley was found guilty. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker imposed the maximum sentence of 120 months on her, emphasizing this case as a serious example of how online disputes can lead to grave implications. Law enforcement and prosecutors celebrated the outcome, noting that no physical harm came to the intended victims, but emotional impacts were felt deeply. The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee stressed the importance of swift action from investigating agencies to avert potential tragedies. As social media continues to evolve, this case raises questions about accountability and the real-world ramifications of digital conflicts.