US Court Jail Man Who Used ChatGPT to Plan Bank Robbery 121 Months

A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for robbing a bank at gunpoint after investigators discovered that he had used ChatGPT to help plan the crime.

Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in the United States District Court in Omaha after pleading guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

US District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Lewis-Payne to 37 months for the bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm. The sentences will run consecutively.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, Lewis-Payne will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term. Federal prisoners do not receive parole.

Court documents showed that Lewis-Payne entered i3Bank at 15645 Spaulding Street, Omaha, on February 10, 2026, while armed with a black semi-automatic Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun.

He allegedly pointed the firearm at two bank employees and threatened to kill them if they failed to comply with his demands. He ordered the tellers to empty their cash drawers and specifically instructed them not to include dye packs.

The employees complied, allowing Lewis-Payne to escape with approximately $9,175 in cash.

Bank surveillance footage captured his unmasked face, the firearm and distinctive clothing, including red Nike slides. Nearby residential security cameras also recorded the vehicle used in the robbery, including its registration plates and identifiable features such as a toolbox and rust spots.

Investigators subsequently determined that Lewis-Payne went on a shopping spree at Westroads Mall after the robbery, using cash to purchase shoes and clothing.

When officers later located him near one of his residences, he fled, leaving behind a quantity of banded cash.

A subsequent search of his residences led investigators to recover another currency band, the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery and most of the clothing he wore during the crime, including the distinctive red Nike slides.

Although Lewis-Payne admitted driving the vehicle, he initially denied participating in the robbery.

However, after consenting to a search of his mobile phone, investigators discovered evidence that he had used ChatGPT while planning the crime.

According to the US Department of Justice, Lewis-Payne used the AI chatbot to seek information relating to law enforcement response times, methods of stripping and repairing a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and how to obtain ammunition despite being a convicted felon.

Investigators also found that his Google Maps history contained a recent search for directions to i3Bank, further linking him to the targeted financial institution.

The firearm allegedly used in the robbery has not been recovered. However, investigators recovered $2,397 of the approximately $9,175 stolen from the bank.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

The prosecution highlights the growing evidentiary challenges and investigative implications surrounding the use of artificial intelligence tools in criminal activity, particularly where digital records can potentially establish a suspect’s preparation and intent.

Source: US Department of Justice.