A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after using ChatGPT while planning a bank robbery, in a case that highlights the growing scrutiny surrounding the misuse of artificial intelligence.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison on August 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the crime.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods, who said District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. handed Lewis-Payne 37 months for the bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentences will run consecutively.
Lewis-Payne will also serve five years of supervised release after leaving prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
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Bank robbery ends in lengthy prison sentence
According to court documents, Lewis-Payne entered i3Bank at 15645 Spaulding Street in Omaha on February 10, 2026, carrying a black semi-automatic handgun.
He allegedly pointed the weapon at two bank employees and demanded money. He threatened to kill the tellers if they failed to cooperate and instructed them to empty their cash drawers without including dye packs.
The employees complied, and Lewis-Payne escaped with approximately $9,175 in stolen cash.
However, investigators quickly began piecing together evidence that would eventually lead them to the suspect.
Bank surveillance footage captured Lewis-Payne’s unmasked face, clothing and the firearm he allegedly used during the robbery. Among the distinctive items he wore were red Nike slides.
Residential surveillance cameras in the area also captured the vehicle believed to have been used during the getaway. Investigators were able to identify its registration plates as well as distinctive features, including a toolbox and specific rust spots.
Police uncover shopping spree
Following the robbery, investigators discovered that Lewis-Payne had gone on a shopping spree at Westroads Mall.
Surveillance footage and transaction records showed that he had used cash to purchase shoes and clothing shortly after the robbery.
When police eventually located him near one of his residences, he fled the area and left behind banded cash.
A subsequent search of his residences uncovered another currency band, the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery and much of the clothing he wore during the crime.
Investigators also recovered the distinctive red Nike slides that appeared in surveillance footage.
Although Lewis-Payne admitted that he had driven the vehicle, he initially denied participating in the robbery.
The investigation took a more unusual turn after officers examined his phone.
ChatGPT connection uncovered
According to the United States Department of Justice, investigators found evidence that Lewis-Payne had used ChatGPT while planning the robbery.
The discovery has drawn attention because the case illustrates how technology can potentially be misused by individuals attempting to facilitate criminal activity.
Investigators said Lewis-Payne’s interactions with the AI chatbot included questions relating to law-enforcement response times, firearm maintenance and ammunition.
He also allegedly sought information about how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun and how to obtain ammunition despite being a convicted felon.
The case demonstrates that using an AI system does not provide protection from criminal investigation and that digital evidence can become an important part of a prosecution.
Google Maps history adds more evidence
Investigators also found evidence in Lewis-Payne’s Google Maps history.
According to court documents, the history showed that he had recently searched for directions to i3Bank, the financial institution he later robbed.
The combination of surveillance footage, transaction records, vehicle evidence, clothing, recovered cash and digital records helped investigators build the case against him.
Although the firearm allegedly used during the robbery was never recovered, investigators recovered $2,397 of the approximately $9,175 stolen from the bank.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
A warning about the misuse of AI
The conviction has also renewed discussions about the responsibilities surrounding artificial intelligence.
AI tools such as ChatGPT are designed to assist users with legitimate tasks such as education, writing, research, coding and problem-solving. However, attempts to use technology to facilitate violence, weapons-related crimes or other illegal activity can have serious consequences.
Lewis-Payne’s case is particularly striking because investigators were able to identify his use of an AI chatbot as part of the evidence surrounding the robbery.
The case also shows how modern criminal investigations can combine traditional evidence with digital information. Surveillance cameras, financial transactions, vehicle records, phone data and online activity can collectively provide investigators with a detailed picture of events.
Lewis-Payne faces more than a decade behind bars
With the 121-month sentence, Lewis-Payne will spend more than a decade in federal prison.
The 37-month sentence for the bank robbery and the additional 84-month sentence for brandishing the firearm will be served consecutively, meaning the firearm-related sentence will not run at the same time as the robbery sentence.
After completing his prison term, he will remain under federal supervision for five years.
The case serves as a dramatic reminder that criminal activity can leave behind extensive digital and physical evidence. In Lewis-Payne’s case, investigators were able to connect his movements, purchases, vehicle, clothing and online activity to the bank robbery.
The unusual detail involving ChatGPT has also made the case stand out, but ultimately, the conviction was based on a broader body of evidence gathered during the investigation.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, the case highlights an important reality: technology can be a powerful tool for legitimate purposes, but its misuse can also become part of a criminal investigation.
For Lewis-Payne, what began as an attempt to plan a bank robbery has ended with a 121-month federal prison sentence, followed by years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted in federal court in Omaha.
For more details on the case and the federal government’s announcement, readers can visit the U.S. Department of Justice, which provides official information on federal prosecutions and criminal cases.
