Man Gets Prison Time After Using ChatGPT to Orchestrate Bank Robbery

An Omaha, Nebraska resident, Deron Lewis-Payne, aged 23, has been handed a 121-month federal prison sentence for a bank robbery he meticulously planned with the aid of ChatGPT. The sentencing took place on August 13, 2026, in a federal court in Omaha, following Lewis-Payne's guilty plea to charges of bank robbery and brandishing a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun during a violent crime.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods confirmed the judgment, stating that District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. imposed a 37-month sentence for the robbery charge, with an additional 84 months for the firearm offense. These sentences are set to run consecutively, and it's important to note that the federal prison system does not offer parole. Upon his eventual release, Lewis-Payne will be subject to five years of supervised release.

Court documents detail that Lewis-Payne carried out the robbery on February 10, 2026, when he entered i3Bank, located at 15645 Spaulding Street, Omaha. Armed with a black semi-automatic handgun, he confronted two bank employees, pointing the weapon at them and threatening their lives if they did not comply. He instructed them to empty their cash drawers and specifically warned against including dye packs. The tellers complied, and Lewis-Payne made off with approximately $9,175 in cash.

Bank surveillance footage proved crucial, capturing his unmasked face and distinctive attire, notably a pair of red Nike slides. The footage also clearly showed the handgun he used. Further investigation utilized residential surveillance cameras near the bank, which identified the getaway vehicle, including its registration plates, a unique toolbox, and specific rust spots.

Investigators later pieced together, through additional surveillance and transaction records from Westroads Mall retailers, that Lewis-Payne embarked on a shopping spree post-robbery, using the stolen cash to purchase shoes and clothing. When law enforcement eventually located him near one of his residences, he attempted to flee, leaving behind banded currency. A subsequent search of his homes uncovered another currency band, the vehicle used in the heist, and most of the clothing he wore during the robbery, including the conspicuous red Nike slides.

Initially, Lewis-Payne admitted to driving the vehicle but denied any involvement in the robbery itself. However, after consenting to a search of his mobile phone, investigators discovered evidence of his use of ChatGPT in planning the crime. According to the US Department of Justice, his queries to the AI chatbot included seeking information on law enforcement response times, how to disassemble and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and methods for a convicted felon to acquire ammunition. His Google Maps history also revealed recent searches for directions to i3Bank.

While the firearm used in the robbery was never recovered, investigators did manage to retrieve $2,397 of the roughly $9,175 that was stolen. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the probe into this case.