By A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison after being convicted of robbing a bank at gunpoint, threatening employees, and using ChatGPT while preparing for the crime.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. He will serve a total of 121 months, comprising 37 months for bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
The sentences will run consecutively, meaning the second term will begin after completion of the first. Lewis-Payne will also serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment. The robbery occurred on February 10 at i3Bank in Omaha, where Lewis-Payne entered the premises carrying a handgun and demanded money from two employees.
According to the US Justice Department, he pointed the weapon at the tellers and threatened to kill them if they failed to comply with his demands. He ordered the employees to empty their cash drawers and warned them not to include dye packs with the money. The employees complied, and Lewis-Payne escaped with approximately $9,175 in cash.
Surveillance footage leads investigators to suspect
Investigators began piecing together evidence from surveillance cameras at the bank and nearby residences following the robbery.
According to the Justice Department, surveillance footage from i3Bank captured Lewis-Payne’s unmasked face and clothing, including distinctive red Nike slides. Residential security cameras also recorded the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery. Investigators were able to identify features of the vehicle, including its registration plate, a toolbox and distinctive rust spots.
The investigation later expanded to Lewis-Payne’s electronic devices. Officers examining his phone discovered evidence that he had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery. The Justice Department said investigators determined that Lewis-Payne had used the chatbot to seek information related to the planned crime, including questions concerning law enforcement response and his firearm.
His Google Maps history also showed that he had searched for directions to i3Bank before the robbery. The discovery provided investigators with additional evidence linking Lewis-Payne to the planning of the bank robbery.
Suspect went shopping after robbery
Following the robbery, investigators said Lewis-Payne went to Westroads Mall, where he spent some of the stolen money on shoes and clothing. Police later located him near one of his residences, but he fled when officers attempted to apprehend him.
According to the Justice Department, Lewis-Payne abandoned some banded cash while fleeing. A subsequent search of his residences produced additional evidence, including another currency band, the vehicle allegedly used during the robbery and most of the clothing he had worn during the incident. The red Nike slides identified in the surveillance footage were also recovered.
Lewis-Payne admitted to driving the vehicle but denied participating in the robbery. While the firearm allegedly used during the bank robbery was not recovered, investigators recovered $2,397 of the approximately $9,175 stolen from the bank.
FBI investigated case
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which was prosecuted in the federal court system.
Lewis-Payne’s use of ChatGPT became one element of the investigation after officers examined the contents of his phone and identified his interactions with the chatbot. The case illustrates how investigators can combine traditional evidence, including surveillance footage and recovered property, with digital evidence from suspects’ electronic devices and online activity.
The US Justice Department also noted that there is no parole in the federal prison system. Lewis-Payne will therefore remain subject to the federal sentence imposed by the court, followed by five years of supervised release.
