A 23-year-old man in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after using ChatGPT to help plan an armed bank robbery.

Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, to 121 months in federal prison after pleading in connection with the robbery of i3Bank in Omaha.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Lewis-Payne received 37 months for bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentences will run consecutively.

He will also serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment.

The robbery occurred on February 10 when Lewis-Payne entered the bank armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and confronted two employees.

Investigators said he pointed the weapon at the tellers, threatened to kill them and ordered them to empty their cash drawers.

The employees handed over approximately $9,175 in cash.

Surveillance footage from the bank and nearby residential properties later helped investigators identify Lewis-Payne and the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery.

The Justice Department said bank cameras captured his unmasked face and distinctive clothing, including red Nike slides, while residential surveillance footage captured the vehicle’s registration plate and other identifying features.

ChatGPT Searches Found on His Phone

The investigation took a significant turn when law enforcement officers examined Lewis-Payne’s phone and discovered that he had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery.

According to the Justice Department, his searches included questions 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 found that his Google Maps history showed he had searched for directions to i3Bank shortly before the robbery.

Following the robbery, Lewis-Payne allegedly went on a shopping spree at Westroads Mall, where he used cash to purchase shoes and clothing.

Police later located him near one of his residences, but he fled the area, leaving banded cash behind.

A subsequent search of his residences uncovered additional currency bands, the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery and much of the clothing he reportedly wore during the crime, including the red Nike slides.

Lewis-Payne admitted driving the vehicle but denied taking part in the robbery.

The firearm allegedly used in the crime was never recovered. Investigators, however, recovered $2,397 of the approximately $9,175 stolen from the bank.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The US Justice Department also noted that federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.

The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence tools by criminals, while also demonstrating how digital records, surveillance systems and device searches can provide investigators with evidence linking suspects to crimes.