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A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, Deron Lewis-Payne, has been sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison for robbing a bank while armed with a firearm.
Lewis-Payne pleaded guilty to robbing an i3Bank branch in Omaha on February 10. During the robbery, he reportedly pointed a gun at bank employees and threatened them before making off with about $9,175.
What has made the case particularly striking is the discovery that Lewis-Payne had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery. Investigators found activity on his phone involving questions about police response times and firearms.
But the robbery quickly began to unravel. Surveillance cameras captured his face, clothing and vehicle, while other footage showed him later shopping for new clothes at Westroads Mall.
His vehicle also became an important clue. When police eventually approached him, Lewis-Payne reportedly fled. Officers later recovered additional money and other evidence believed to be connected to the robbery.
A search of his phone provided even more evidence. Investigators found his ChatGPT activity, while his Google Maps history showed that the bank had recently been among his searches.
In the end, the digital trail proved difficult to escape. Despite allegedly turning to AI in an attempt to prepare for the crime, Lewis-Payne left behind enough evidence for investigators to piece everything together.
He was sentenced on August 13 to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Because it is a federal sentence, he will not be eligible for federal parole.
