A 23-year-old man in Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after using ChatGPT while planning an armed bank robbery.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced to 121 months in prison, equivalent to 10 years and one month, after being convicted of bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He will also serve five years of supervised release after his prison term.
The case dates back to February 10, 2026, when Lewis-Payne entered an i3Bank branch in Omaha and pointed a handgun at bank employees. He threatened to kill the tellers and demanded cash, instructing them not to include dye packs. He escaped with approximately $9,175.
Investigators later used surveillance footage and other evidence to identify Lewis-Payne. Cameras captured his face and the vehicle he used to flee the bank. Authorities also linked him to shopping activity after the robbery and recovered clothing and other evidence connected to the crime.
The investigation took another turn after Lewis-Payne consented to a search of his phone. Investigators discovered that he had used ChatGPT in connection with planning the robbery, including asking questions related to police response times and firearms.
His Google Maps history also showed that he had searched for directions to the same bank he later robbed.
Authorities said the digital evidence was among several pieces of information used to build the case against him. Lewis-Payne admitted driving the vehicle but denied carrying out the robbery.
The federal court ultimately imposed consecutive sentences of 37 months for the bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing the firearm, bringing the total to 121 months.
Unlike many state prison systems, the federal prison system does not provide parole. After completing his sentence, Lewis-Payne will begin a five-year period of supervised release.
The case has attracted attention because of the use of artificial intelligence during the preparation of the crime, but investigators ultimately relied on a combination of traditional police work, surveillance footage, physical evidence and information recovered from his phone to secure the conviction.
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