An influencer has been jailed for 10 years after attempting to hire a killer to silence her critics.
Ashley Grayson was a popular influencer with over 1,565 followers on Instagram.
On her social media, the 35-year-old describes herself as an eight-figure business coach, course creator and philanthropist.
READ MORE: Plucky pooches save man from being savaged by a bear
But last month she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for murder-for-hire, as reported by Need To Know.
In August 2022, Ashley asked a woman she’d worked with before to fly out to her in Dallas, Texas, to discuss a “business opportunity.”
The woman agreed and flew out the next month with her husband.
Upon arriving to Ashley’s home, the influencer reportedly asked the couple to kill her ex-boyfriend, an internet rival, and a woman who had criticised her online.
Ashley offered the two $20,000 (£15,900) between them, for each murder.
On 10 September 2022, the woman who Ashley had ‘hired’ recorded a video call between the two.
The influencer could be heard confirming that she wanted her internet rival killed immediately.
She even offered an extra $5,000 (£3,900) for it to be done within the week.
The woman went to the police with a recording of the video call.
In July 2023, a grand jury indicted Ashley and her husband for the murder-for-hire plot, and while her husband, Joshua, was acquitted, she was found guilty.
In October, she was sentenced to the maximum penalty and received 10 years in prison.
Once free, she will have three years of supervised release.
And since her case was federal, she will not be eligible for parole.
Acting US Attorney Reagan Fondren said in a police statement: “This was a twenty-first century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world.
“The defendant tried to hire someone to murder a woman over things that happened exclusively on the internet.
“Fortunately, no one was physically hurt in this case, but the victim and her family still felt a severe and emotional impact as the result of the defendant’s actions.
“The proactive response from the investigating agencies and our prosecutors prevented an even more serious crime from occurring.”
Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency added: “This murder-for-hire plot underscores the strength of joint federal law enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of the citizens in our community.
“This sentence demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate violent crimes and root out those who seek to prey on the public.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Acting US Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Oldham and Bryce Phillips who prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.
READ MORE: Nail-care influencer ‘shot dead by furious ex’ on busy street
