Omaha man sentenced to 10 years after using ChatGPT to plan bank robbery

Deron Lewis-Payne, a 23-year-old from Omaha, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison following a bank robbery in February 2026. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. in Nebraska.

Investigators used Lewis-Payne’s ChatGPT conversation history as key evidence. The logs revealed queries regarding police response times, how to disassemble and repair a .45-caliber pistol, and methods for a former convict to obtain ammunition. Additionally, Google Maps history provided a route directly to the i3Bank branch on Spaulding Street.

During the robbery, Lewis-Payne used a loaded firearm to threaten two employees, escaping with approximately $9,175. He was identified through surveillance footage showing his face, his weapon, and distinctive red Nike slippers. Following a pursuit near Westroads Mall, police recovered the remaining stolen funds and robbery attire. The sentence includes 37 months for the robbery and 84 months for threatening employees with a firearm, followed by five years of supervised release.