The influencer who offered someone $60,000 to murder three people. Then got caught.

On a seemingly average day in 2022, Texas influencer Ashley Grayson plotted something far darker than the online empire she'd built.

Before committing the crime, the 35-year-old — who described herself as a course creator, business coach, and philanthropist in her Instagram bio — was admired for her business expertise and social media presence.

But behind the screen, Grayson had been facing a personal and professional feud for some time.

Watch: Shocking evidence of potential war crime exposed in major investigation. 60 Minutes Australia. Post continues after video.

Her rivalry with a woman from Southaven, Mississippi, who ran a similar online business, had escalated over the years.

Grayson suspected this woman of creating fake profiles to slander her business online. While the two had never even met in person, in the 35-year-old's mind, the damage had been done.

Soon, Grayson had come to the conclusion that her rival was an obstacle that needed to be eliminated.

Grayson contacted a woman from Memphis, Tennessee, who she'd worked with before. She invited the woman to Dallas under the guise of discussing a "business opportunity".

Along with her husband, the woman flew to Texas, where Grayson outlined her plan. She wanted the Memphis pair to kill three people.

The first was the woman from Southaven. The second was her ex-boyfriend, and the third was a Texas woman who had recently criticised her online. Grayson had put a price on their heads — $20,000 each, $60,000 total, with a $5,000 bonus for executing one of the murders quickly.

Over a video call in September 2022, Grayson confirmed to the Memphis couple that the Southaven woman was her top priority. She offered an additional $5,000 if the murder could be carried out within a week.

The couple, however, had their own plans.

Using planted police car photos from an unrelated incident, they managed to falsely convince Grayson that they had attempted the assassination, but the plan had failed.

The pair then demanded half the money Grayson had offered them for the murder, and flew to Dallas to collect it. Grayson, believing the plot was foiled, handed over the $10,000 for the "attempt" — unknowingly sealing her fate.

Everything came crashing down in July 2023, when Grayson was indicted on charges of murder-for-hire.

As per a media release from United States Attorney's Office, a grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned a one-count indictment for Use of Interstate Facility in Commission of Murder-for-Hire against both Ashley Grayson and her husband, Joshua Grayson.

By March 2024, after a week-long trial, Ashley was found guilty.

The jury acquitted her husband, Joshua Grayson, but Ashley was held accountable for her actions.

On October 31, 2024, she was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, the maximum penalty for the crime. The judge also sentenced her to three years of supervised release after her prison term.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Reagan Fondren said: "This was a 21st 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."

Meanwhile, FBI agent Joe Carrico 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.

And so, what began as a rivalry fuelled by social media slander quickly escalated into a plot for murder.

Grayson's story is a cautionary tale of how the digital age can amplify personal grievances, leading some to make choices with irreversible consequences.

Feature Image: Instagram/@itsashley_graysona