A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison after admitting to robbing a bank and using ChatGPT while planning the crime.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the offence.
Man used AI chatbot while planning robbery
According to court documents, Lewis-Payne entered i3Bank at 15645 Spaulding Street, Omaha, on February 10, 2026, while carrying a black semi-automatic handgun.
He allegedly pointed the firearm at two bank employees, threatened to kill them and demanded that they empty their cash drawers.
The employees complied, and Lewis-Payne escaped with about $9,175 in stolen cash.
Investigators later identified him through surveillance footage, which captured his unmasked face, clothing and the handgun used during the robbery.
Additional footage from nearby residential cameras also helped investigators trace the vehicle involved, including its registration plates and unique features.
After the robbery, authorities said Lewis-Payne used some of the stolen money to purchase shoes and clothing at Westroads Mall.
Police later found him near one of his residences, where he fled and left behind banded cash.
A search of his properties uncovered more evidence, including clothing worn during the robbery and the vehicle used in the crime.
Authorities said a search of his phone revealed that Lewis-Payne had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery.
Investigators said his interactions with the AI chatbot included questions about police response times, repairing and modifying a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and obtaining ammunition despite being a convicted felon.
His Google Maps history also showed that he had searched for directions to the bank before carrying out the robbery.
Lewis-Payne was sentenced to 37 months for the bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentences will run consecutively.
He will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The firearm used in the robbery has not been recovered, while investigators recovered $2,397 of the stolen money.
