A 23-year-old man in the United States has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after investigators discovered that he used ChatGPT while planning an armed bank robbery in Omaha, Nebraska.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, to 121 months, or 10 years and one month, in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentences were imposed consecutively, with 37 months for the robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing the firearm.
The robbery took place on February 10, 2026, at an i3Bank branch in Omaha. According to prosecutors, Lewis-Payne entered the bank carrying a black semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at two employees.
He threatened to kill the workers if they failed to comply and ordered them to empty their cash drawers. He also instructed them not to include dye packs with the money.
The employees complied, and Lewis-Payne escaped with approximately $9,175.
However, his attempt to conceal his identity was unsuccessful. Surveillance cameras inside the bank captured his unmasked face and distinctive clothing, including a pair of red Nike slides. Nearby residential surveillance cameras also captured the vehicle he allegedly used, including its registration plate and other distinctive features.
Investigators said Lewis-Payne later went on a shopping spree at Westroads Mall, using some of the stolen cash to purchase clothing and shoes.
When officers eventually located him near one of his residences, he fled on foot, abandoning cash as he ran. A subsequent search uncovered additional money, the vehicle linked to the robbery and much of the clothing seen in the surveillance footage.
The investigation took another turn when officers examined his phone.
According to prosecutors, investigators discovered that Lewis-Payne had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery. His conversations reportedly included questions concerning police response times, how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun and how to obtain ammunition despite being a convicted felon.
Investigators also found that his Google Maps history showed that he had recently searched for directions to the very bank he later robbed.
Although the firearm used in the robbery has not been recovered, authorities recovered $2,397 of the approximately $9,175 stolen.
The FBI investigated the case.
Lewis-Payne will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. Because he was sentenced in the federal system, he will not be eligible for federal parole.
The case has drawn attention because it highlights how digital footprints, including AI chatbot conversations, location searches, surveillance footage and financial transactions, can potentially become evidence in criminal investigations.
Despite using artificial intelligence in his preparations, Lewis-Payne’s actions left investigators with multiple trails leading back to him.
The lesson is clear: AI does not make criminal activity invisible, and using technology to plan a crime does not remove responsibility from the person committing it.
