In the world of online course creation, platforms like Teachable have empowered countless individuals to monetize their skills and build thriving businesses.
One such creator, Ashley Grayson, rose to prominence by teaching others how to turn their expertise into profitable online courses. However, her story took a dark turn, serving as a stark reminder that not all creators handle criticism or competition gracefully — and some may go to unthinkable extremes.
Grayson, a 35-year-old Dallas-based influencer, built a reputation as an “eight-figure business coach, course creator, and philanthropist,” leveraging Teachable to share her blueprint for success.
Her online venture, Digital Course Recipe, reportedly earned her millions, with claims of making $1 million in just 40 minutes. But beneath the glitz of her social media persona, Grayson harbored a dangerous obsession with silencing her detractors.
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In 2022, Grayson’s success was overshadowed by a chilling plot. Federal prosecutors revealed that she offered a Memphis-based couple $60,000 to kill three people: her ex-boyfriend, a Mississippi woman running a similar Teachable-based business, and a Texas woman who had posted a negative comment about Grayson’s course online.
The price for each life? A staggering $20,000, with an extra $5,000 bonus if the Mississippi rival was eliminated within a week. Grayson’s grievances stemmed from online feuds — suspicions that her competitor was trolling her with fake profiles and resentment over a critical remark that dented her pristine image.
Fortunately, the plot unraveled before anyone was harmed. The Memphis couple, instead of carrying out the murders, recorded Grayson’s incriminating offer and alerted authorities. They even tricked her by sending photos of police lights from an unrelated incident, claiming a failed attempt, and collected $10,000 from Grayson for their “efforts.”
In July 2023, a Tennessee grand jury indicted Grayson and her husband, Joshua, for using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire.
After a week-long trial in March 2024, Ashley was convicted, while Joshua was acquitted.
On October 31, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced her to the maximum penalty: 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. As a federal case, she is ineligible for parole.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren called it a “twenty-first-century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world.” The emotional toll on the intended victims and their families was profound, even though no physical harm occurred. The case underscores the dangers of escalating digital disputes into real-world violence, particularly in the high-stakes world of online entrepreneurship where egos and incomes are on the line.
Grayson’s downfall is a sobering lesson for creators and consumers alike. For those building businesses on platforms like Teachable, it’s a reminder to handle competition and criticism with professionalism, not vengeance.
For students and followers, it’s a warning to tread carefully when leaving feedback. While most creators are genuine professionals, Grayson’s extreme actions highlight that some may react to criticism in ways that defy comprehension.
The next time you’re tempted to leave a scathing review or engage in an online spat, pause and reflect: you never know who’s on the other side of the screen. In Grayson’s case, her inability to cope with criticism didn’t just cost her reputation — it cost her freedom.
Source: People.com, “Texas Influencer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Murder-for-Hire Plot,”.
