A Texas social media influencer has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after attempting to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot targeting three individuals, including a rival businesswoman and an online critic. Ashley Grayson, 35, was sentenced to 120 months behind bars after being convicted of attempting to pay $60,000 to have the victims killed.

Grayson, who ran a successful online business from her home in Dallas, presented herself as a bestselling author, eight-figure business coach, and philanthropist. However, her rise to fame was overshadowed by a shocking criminal scheme that unfolded in 2022. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, Grayson contacted a friend in Memphis, offering a “business opportunity” that quickly escalated into a murder plot.

The Memphis woman, along with her husband, was offered $20,000 per kill to eliminate three people: Grayson’s ex-boyfriend, a business rival from Mississippi, and a Texas woman who had criticized Grayson online. As the plan unfolded, the couple secretly reported the plot to authorities, recording video evidence of the discussions. In one meeting, Grayson even added an additional $5,000 to expedite the murder of the Mississippi woman within a week.

In a bizarre twist, the Memphis couple faked an attempt to carry out the murders, sending Grayson a video of flashing police lights from an unrelated incident, claiming they had been caught. Grayson, undeterred, handed over $10,000 to the couple as payment for their “efforts.”

The case highlights the dangers of online conflicts spilling into the real world. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren stated, “This was a 21st-century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world.” Grayson’s sentencing sends a strong message about the consequences of such actions.

Grayson was convicted of murder-for-hire, and given the federal nature of the case, she will serve her sentence without the possibility of parole. Her husband was acquitted of any involvement.

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