Ashley Grayson’s story has captivated the internet for nearly a year. The chaotic narrative has taken many unexpected and bewildering turns, with the biggest and perhaps most significant one being Ashley Grayson’s federal indictment for racketeering and attempted murder. The indictment, filed in the United District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, accuses Ashley Grayson and her husband, Joshua Grayson, of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. 

Ashley claimed she made millions through her credit repair business; she actually got the money through a workers’ compensation settlement

Before Ashley became internet-famous, she was a postal worker. She allegedly started a credit repair business in 2017, which reportedly tripled her salary. Grayson allegedly advertised her triumphs on social media:

“Today is my last day clocking in and working for anyone else. I’m now making more in one month with my business than I was making in three months working inside the post office. Yep! I tripled my federal salary in my pajamas. Just working from home and helping others reach their goals!”

Ashley’s lifestyle, as displayed on social media, supported the claim that she was wealthy. However, Ashley seemingly lied about how she got her money. Ashley’s instant fortune came via a workers’ compensation settlement, paid out after she suffered an injury at work. Her claim that she’d made a million dollars in less than an hour via her online platform was false. 

Ashley’s claims earned her social media fame – and she capitalized on it, marketing courses that she promised would teach people how to get rich quickly. People paid for the classes, hoping their investments in Ashley would yield results. 

However, Ashley’s courses, per disgruntled netizens, were scams. She allegedly delayed the start of her courses to prevent subscribers from requesting refunds, censored negative reviews on her website, and created false advertisements. TikTok user Ess Ess publicized people’s concerns online, drawing Ashley’s ire. 

Ashley sued Ess Ess for defamation, but at this point, nothing could save her reputation. Her attempts to sanitize her social media page failed.

Ashley Grayson is facing criminal charges and a defamation lawsuit

The first indication that federal authorities were investigating Ashley came via a countersuit filed by Derricka Harwell. Harwell countersued in response to Ashley’s defamation lawsuit. 

She claimed that she and Ashley met via mutual friends on Facebook in September 2022. Harwell alleged that after a while, Ashley started posting derogatory comments about her. Per Harwell’s countersuit, she didn’t respond to Ashley beyond blocking her account. 

Ashley doubled her efforts, Harwell claimed, posting ‘hundreds of false and defamatory statements on various social media sites as well as sending harassing direct messages under various anonymous usernames on Facebook’. Harwell asserted that Ashley posted her phone numbers and address on social media ‘in an attempt to follow, alarm, and/or harass’ Harwell. 

Harwell claimed she obtained a restraining order against Ashley. She also said that FBI officers visited her home and told her that Ashley ‘attempted to hire individuals to murder her, specifically in the presence of her children’. Harwell stated that leaning on the FBI’s advice, she moved her family to a secure location.  

Harwell said that Ashley filed defamation lawsuits against her victims in an attempt to cover up the murder-for-hire investigation. The federal indictment against Ashley on racketeering and attempted murder charges confirmed the FBI investigated her and her husband. 

The indictment doesn’t name Ashley’s victims. Social media posts claim that Ashley conspired to murder the following: Ashley’s ex, Patrick Tate; TikToker Ess Ess; Ashley’s competitor, Dr. Derricka Harwell; ex-husband Paul Massengil; and several others. Despite being pregnant during her arrest, very few people have shown sympathy for Ashley.