A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to robbing a bank and brandishing a firearm during the crime.
Deron Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha. He received 37 months for the bank robbery and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm, with the sentences to run consecutively.
According to the US Department of Justice, Lewis-Payne used ChatGPT while planning the robbery, including seeking 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.
The robbery took place on February 10, 2026, when Lewis-Payne entered i3Bank on Spaulding Street in Omaha, brandished a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded money from two employees.
He threatened to kill the tellers if they failed to comply and ordered them to empty their cash drawers while warning them not to include dye packs.
The employees handed over approximately $9,175, after which Lewis-Payne fled.
Bank surveillance captured his unmasked face, distinctive clothing and the handgun. Residential cameras also captured the vehicle used in the robbery, including its registration plates and identifying features.
Investigators later traced his movements through surveillance footage and retailer transaction records after he went on a shopping spree at Westroads Mall, where he used cash to purchase shoes and clothing.
When officers later located him near one of his residences, he fled and left banded cash behind. Searches of his residences uncovered the getaway vehicle, another currency band and most of the clothing worn during the robbery, including the distinctive red Nike slides.
Although Lewis-Payne initially denied involvement, he later consented to a search of his phone, which investigators said revealed his use of ChatGPT in planning the crime. His Google Maps history also showed that he had recently searched for directions to the bank.
The firearm used in the robbery was not recovered, but investigators recovered $2,397 of the stolen money. The case was investigated by the FBI.
There is no parole in the federal prison system. After completing his sentence, Lewis-Payne will serve five years of supervised release.
Source: US Department of Justice.
