A Dallas influencer’s online feud spirals into a shocking murder-for-hire plot, landing her 10 years behind bars.
At a Glance
- Ashley Grayson, a 35-year-old Dallas business coach, sentenced to 10 years for murder-for-hire plot
- Target was a Mississippi woman who criticized Grayson online
- Grayson offered $20,000 per victim to a Memphis couple to carry out the murders
- Recorded call and $10,000 payment served as key evidence in the case
- Conviction highlights the dangerous escalation of online disputes into real-world crimes
From Social Media Star to Federal Inmate
Ashley Grayson, a 35-year-old Dallas resident who built her reputation as a business coach, bestselling author, and philanthropist, has seen her carefully crafted online persona crumble. On October 31, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Grayson to 10 years in federal prison for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. The target? A woman from Southaven, Mississippi, whose online criticism apparently threatened Grayson’s digital empire.
Grayson, convinced that her target was creating fake profiles to damage her reputation, took drastic measures to silence her critic. In September 2022, she approached a Memphis couple with a chilling proposition: $20,000 per victim to carry out multiple murders.
Ashley Grayson, a Dallas social media star, was sentenced to 10 years for a murder-for-hire plot targeting her online rival. 🤦🏾♀️⚖️🍦 https://t.co/33XL6NHAMZ#AshleyGrayson #MurderForHire #SocialMedia #IceCreamConvos pic.twitter.com/MDcVuvKbCe
— IceCreamConvos.com (@IceCreamConvos) November 21, 2024
The Plot Unravels
Grayson’s downfall came swiftly as her murderous intentions were captured on a recorded call. In a moment of impatience, she offered an additional $5,000 for a quick execution of the plot. The couple, wisely choosing to cooperate with authorities, staged an attempt and sent a fake photo to Grayson. She took the bait, transferring $10,000 as partial payment for the supposed hit.
“This was a twenty-first century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world,” according to acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren.
The investigation, led by the FBI and ATF, culminated in the indictment of Grayson and her husband, Joshua, in July 2023. While Joshua was acquitted, Ashley’s conviction in March 2024 sealed her fate. The prosecution team, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neal Oldham and Bryce Phillips, successfully argued that Grayson’s actions constituted a serious misuse of interstate facilities for criminal purposes.
The Aftermath: A Cautionary Tale
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren emphasized the severe impact on the victim and her family, despite the absence of physical injury. This case serves as a chilling reminder of how online disagreements can spiral into real-world consequences with devastating effects.
FBI Special Agent Joe Carrico praised the investigation and federal efforts to prevent violence, highlighting the seriousness with which law enforcement views such threats. The case against Grayson sends a clear message: online influence does not shield one from the consequences of criminal actions.
A Lesson for the Digital Age
As social media continues to blur the lines between online personas and real-world actions, Grayson’s case serves as a sobering cautionary tale. It underscores the need for digital literacy, responsible online behavior, and the importance of resolving conflicts through proper channels. The ease with which online disputes can escalate into criminal behavior should give pause to anyone engaging in heated internet debates.
