Omaha Man Jailed 121 Months for Using ChatGPT to Plan Bank Robbery
A federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, has sentenced 23-year-old Deron Lewis-Payne to 121 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the crime.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Lewis-Payne received 37 months for the robbery and an additional 84 months for using a firearm, with the sentences running consecutively. He will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
Court records show that on February 10, 2026, Lewis-Payne entered i3Bank at 15645 Spaulding Street, in Omaha, armed with a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and threatened two bank employees. He fled with approximately $9,175 in cash but was later identified through surveillance footage that captured his unmasked face, distinctive red Nike slides, and the getaway vehicle.
Investigators discovered that Lewis-Payne had used ChatGPT to plan aspects of the robbery, including queries about law enforcement response times, firearm repair, and ammunition access despite being a convicted felon. His Google Maps history also revealed searches for directions to the bank.
Although the firearm was not recovered, authorities seized $2,397 of the stolen cash and clothing worn during the crime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation.
