Texas Influencer’s Dark Secret: Business Coach Tried to Hire Hitmen to Murder Rivals!
A Texas influencer who seemed to have it all plotted a chilling murder-for-hire scheme—targeting a rival, an ex, and an online critic. 🌐 #News #DallasTX #Texas #Crime
DALLAS, TX – She was a bubbly business coach with a heart of gold, adored by her followers and celebrated for her success. To the outside world, Ashley Grayson seemed like the picture of positivity and ambition, a Texas woman helping others achieve their dreams. But behind the polished smile and the shiny exterior was a chilling secret: a plot to have three people murdered, including a business rival and someone who dared to criticize her online. The truth was far darker than anyone could have imagined.
A Texas influencer has been sentenced to the maximum 10 years in prison after attempting to hire a hitman to murder three people, including a business rival and someone who criticized her online. Ashley Grayson, 35, who built a popular online business from her home in Dallas, was convicted of attempting to pay a Memphis couple to carry out the murders for $20,000 each.
Grayson, a self-proclaimed business coach and philanthropist, used her internet fame to promote online courses and portray herself as a successful entrepreneur. However, her online persona took a dark turn when she tried to hire someone to eliminate three individuals she considered threats.
The Murder-for-Hire Scheme Unraveled
In 2022, Grayson reached out to a Memphis friend, asking her to travel to Dallas to discuss a “business opportunity.” The opportunity, however, was far from legitimate. Grayson offered to pay the Memphis couple $20,000 for each person they killed: her ex-partner, a business competitor in Mississippi, and a woman from Texas who had publicly criticized her on social media.
The Memphis couple initially pretended to agree to the arrangement, but instead, they recorded a video of Grayson offering an additional $5,000 to have the murder of the Mississippi woman carried out within a week. They then handed the video to authorities, exposing the full extent of Grayson’s deadly plans.
Authorities Foil the Plot
After the couple turned the information over to the police, they staged a fake attempt at the murders. They sent Grayson a video showing police lights, claiming they had tried to follow through but had been caught. Grayson, believing the murders had been carried out, met with the couple, paying them $10,000 for the “attempt.”
This video evidence, along with Grayson’s own statements, was pivotal in securing her conviction. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren commented, “This was a 21st-century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world,” adding that Grayson had sought to murder someone over incidents that had taken place entirely on the internet.
Grayson Sentenced and Husband Acquitted
Grayson was found guilty of three counts of murder-for-hire and received the maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. As this was a federal case, she is not eligible for parole. Meanwhile, her husband was acquitted of any involvement in the plot, despite his initial association with Grayson.
This case underscores how online conflicts can escalate beyond the digital realm, with deadly consequences. Grayson’s sentencing marks a chilling reminder of how far some will go to settle personal grievances.
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