A 23-year-old Omaha, Nebraska, man has been sentenced to 121 months (just over 10 years) in federal prison for an armed bank robbery he prepared for in part by querying ChatGPT.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. He received 37 months for bank robbery and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He will also face five years of supervised release afterward. There is no parole in the federal system.
On February 10, 2026, Lewis-Payne entered an i3Bank branch in Omaha carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the weapon at two tellers, threatened to kill them if they did not comply, ordered them to empty their cash drawers, and specifically warned them not to include dye packs. He fled with about $9,175.
Surveillance cameras inside the bank captured his unmasked face and distinctive clothing, including red Nike slides. Nearby residential cameras recorded the vehicle he used, including its license plate and identifying features such as a toolbox and rust spots. After the robbery he went on a cash shopping spree at Westroads Mall for shoes and clothes.
When officers approached him near one of his residences, he fled, leaving banded cash behind. Searches of his residences turned up more currency bands, the vehicle, and much of the clothing worn during the crime. Investigators recovered $2,397 of the stolen money; the handgun was never found.
Lewis-Payne admitted driving the vehicle but initially denied taking part in the robbery. He consented to a search of his phone. Forensic examination showed he had used ChatGPT while preparing for the crime. Queries included questions about law-enforcement response times, how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and how a felon could obtain ammunition. His Google Maps history also showed a recent search for directions to the bank.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
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