A Dallas, Texas woman, Ashley Grayson, 35, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for her involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. According to a release from theU.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, Grayson attempted to have a Southaven, Mississippi woman killed, among others, following online disputes.
Grayson’s plans came to light after she invited a Memphis couple to Dallas under the pretext of discussing a “business opportunity”. This couple was to be the executor of her plots, tasked with eliminating Grayson’s online nemesis, a former boyfriend, and a third woman who had spoken negatively about her on social media. The Memphis couple deceived Grayson by pretending to carry out the act and later collected $10,000 for their purported efforts.
The investigation, conducted by the FBI and ATF, culminated in Grayson’s conviction in March 2024, following a trial in which her husband, Joshua Grayson, was acquitted. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren highlighted the severity of the crime, stating to theU.S. Attorney’s Office, “This was a twenty-first century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world.” Fondren expressed satisfaction that, although no one was physically harmed, they were able to prevent a more serious incident from occurring.
Grayson received the maximum sentence of imprisonment available for a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1958, which is 120 months without the possibility of parole, followed by three years of supervised release. In acknowledgment of the work done by law enforcement agencies, Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office stressed to theU.S. Attorney’s Office, “This murder-for-hire plot underscores the strength of joint federal law enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of the citizens in our community.” The swift and decisive actions of the agencies involved were critical in thwarting Grayson’s intentions.
Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Oldham and Bryce Phillips were commended by Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren for their roles in prosecuting the case. The investigation and subsequent trial serve as a reminder of the repercussions of allowing virtual confrontations to escalate into potential real-world violence, and the dedicated effort required to prevent such outcomes.
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