Deron Lewis-Payne: Man Uses ChatGPT to Plan Bank Robbery, Gets 121-Month Prison Sentence

• Deron Lewis-Payne, a 23-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska, used ChatGPT to plan an armed bank robbery in February 2026
• Lewis-Payne brandished a semi-automatic handgun at two bank employees and fled with roughly $9,175 in cash
• A forensic examination of his phone exposed ChatGPT queries on police response times and how to illegally obtain ammunition

A 23-year-old American man who used ChatGPT to help plan a bank robbery has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison.

Deron Lewis-Payne, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to 37 months for bank robbery and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

US District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr handed down the sentence in federal court.

Because there is no parole in the US federal prison system, Lewis-Payne is expected to serve the full 121-month sentence, followed by five years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods confirmed the sentencing.

Read also

"Good news": Abu Trica's new lawyers boast major courtroom wins ahead of his US court appearance

Tellers threatened during armed raid

Court documents showed that Lewis-Payne entered i3Bank on Spaulding Street in Omaha on February 10, 2026, while brandishing a black semi-automatic handgun.

He pointed the firearm at two employees and threatened to kill them if they failed to follow his instructions.

Lewis-Payne ordered the tellers to empty their cash drawers and specifically warned them not to include chemical dye packs.

The employees handed over approximately $9,175 (£7,000) before he fled the bank.

Red Nike slides help police investigation

Despite his efforts to plan the robbery, Lewis-Payne left behind several pieces of evidence.

Bank security cameras captured his unmasked face and distinctive clothing, including a pair of red Nike slides.

Neighbourhood security cameras outside the bank also recorded his getaway vehicle, including its registration plate and distinctive features such as a fitted toolbox and visible rust spots.

After the robbery, Lewis-Payne went to Westroads Mall, where retail surveillance footage and transaction records showed him spending the stolen cash on clothes and footwear.

Read also

Australia-based man arrested and charged over $5 million NDIS fraud while attempting to flee

Police later tracked him down near one of his residences. He attempted to flee on foot but dropped stacks of banded banknotes as he ran.

Police find ChatGPT robbery planning on phone

Investigators searching Lewis-Payne's property recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery, additional currency wrappers and most of the clothing worn during the raid, including the red footwear.

Although Lewis-Payne admitted driving the vehicle, he denied taking part in the bank robbery and agreed to allow officers to examine his mobile phone.

A forensic examination of the phone revealed that he had used ChatGPT as an instructional guide while planning the offence.

According to court documents, his queries included questions about police response times, instructions on how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and how a convicted felon could illegally obtain ammunition.

His Google Maps navigation history also showed a recent search for directions to the targeted bank.

FBI recovers part of stolen cash

Law enforcement officers recovered $2,397 of the stolen money.However, the firearm allegedly used during the robbery was never found.

Read also

US embassy releases statement on online scams, shares concerning data

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Lewis-Payne will now serve 121 months in federal prison before beginning his five-year period of supervised release.

FBI, DEA ordered to release Tinubu's files

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that a US District Court had set August 21, 2026, as the deadline for federal agencies to hand over investigative records on President Bola Tinubu.

Judge Beryl Howell had issued the order after the FBI and DEA repeatedly missed court deadlines in the three-year-old Freedom of Information case.

The lawsuit centred on a 1990s Chicago narcotics investigation during which Tinubu surrendered $460,000 to US authorities in a civil forfeiture proceeding.

Source: YEN.com.gh