A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for robbing a bank and brandishing a firearm during the crime after investigators discovered that he had used ChatGPT while planning the robbery.

Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha after pleading guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun during a crime of violence.

US Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the sentence, saying District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. handed Lewis-Payne 37 months for the bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing the firearm. The sentences will be served consecutively.

Lewis-Payne will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

Bank robbery in Omaha

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 firearm at two bank employees and demanded money, threatening to kill them if they failed to comply.

The employees emptied their cash drawers and were specifically warned not to include dye packs. Lewis-Payne then fled the bank with approximately $9,175.

Surveillance footage helps investigators

Bank surveillance cameras captured Lewis-Payne’s unmasked face, clothing and the handgun used during the robbery. Investigators also noted his distinctive red Nike slides.

Residential surveillance cameras around the bank captured the vehicle used in the getaway. The cameras recorded its registration plates and distinctive features, including a toolbox and specific rust spots.

Investigators later used surveillance footage and transaction records from retailers at Westroads Mall to establish that Lewis-Payne went on a shopping spree shortly after the robbery.

He allegedly used some of the stolen cash to purchase shoes and clothing.

Police later located Lewis-Payne near one of his residences, but he fled from officers and left behind banded cash.

Searches of his residences uncovered 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.

ChatGPT searches uncovered

Although Lewis-Payne admitted that he had driven the vehicle, he initially denied involvement in the robbery.

He later consented to a search of his phone. Investigators said the search revealed that he had used ChatGPT while preparing for the crime.

According to the US Department of Justice, Lewis-Payne used the AI chatbot to seek information about law enforcement 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 discovered that his Google Maps history showed that he had recently searched for directions to i3Bank.

Firearm not recovered

The handgun allegedly used during the robbery was not recovered by investigators.

However, authorities recovered $2,397 of the approximately $9,175 stolen from the bank.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which resulted in Lewis-Payne’s guilty plea and subsequent federal prison sentence.

The case highlights how investigators can use digital evidence, including phone records, surveillance footage, transaction histories and location data, to build cases against suspects involved in serious crimes.