A 23-year-old man in Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison after using ChatGPT while planning an armed bank robbery.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13 for robbing i3Bank in Omaha and brandishing a firearm during the crime, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Lewis-Payne received 37 months for the bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm. The sentences will run consecutively. He will also serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment. There is no parole in the US federal prison system.
The robbery occurred on February 10, 2026, when Lewis-Payne entered the bank carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the weapon at two employees, threatened to kill them, and ordered them to hand over money without dye packs.
He escaped with about $9,175 in cash.
Investigators identified him through surveillance footage that captured his unmasked face, clothing, and red Nike slides. Nearby residential cameras also recorded the vehicle used in the robbery, including its registration plate and distinctive features.
After the robbery, investigators said Lewis-Payne went on a cash shopping spree at Westroads Mall. When officers later approached him near one of his residences, he fled, leaving banded cash behind.
A search of his residences uncovered the vehicle, more cash, and clothing he allegedly wore during the robbery, including the red Nike slides.
Investigators also searched his phone and found that he had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery. According to the Justice Department, his queries included questions about law enforcement response times, repairing a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and obtaining ammunition as a convicted felon. His Google Maps history also showed directions to i3Bank.
Lewis-Payne admitted driving the getaway vehicle but denied involvement in the robbery. The firearm used in the crime was not recovered, while $2,397 of the stolen $9,175 was recovered.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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