Bank robber sentenced to 121 months after using ChatGPT to plan heist
A 23-year-old Nebraska man used ChatGPT to plan a bank robbery, consulting the chatbot on police response times and firearm repair before robbing i3Bank at gunpoint in February 2026. He was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison after evidence from his phone and surveillance footage led to his conviction.",
What happened
On February 10, 2026, Deron Lewis-Payne, aged 23, entered i3Bank in Omaha, Nebraska, carrying a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded money from employees. He pointed the handgun at tellers and told them he would kill them if they did not comply, ordering them to empty their cash drawers and warning them not to include dye packs.
Lewis-Payne escaped with approximately $9,175 in cash. Bank surveillance captured his unmasked face and distinctive outfit including red Nike slides, and residential cameras captured the vehicle's registration plate and distinctive features including a toolbox and rust spots.
Investigators examining Lewis-Payne's phone found he had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery, with queries including advice on law enforcement response times, how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and how to obtain ammunition despite being a felon.
Reported impact
i3Bank lost approximately $9,175 in the robbery. Two bank employees were threatened with death during the incident.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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