ABILENE, Texas — Two West Texas men, who each pleaded guilty in February 2017 to one count of sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl, were sentenced Monday to hefty federal prison sentences.

These sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Abilene Police Department and Traffick911.

Terrell Orlando Kinchen, 20, and Troy Lee Applin Jr., 23, were each sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 240 months in federal prison.

“What these men did to this 12-year old girl is shocking and despicable,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “The total depravity displayed by these defendants justifies these sentences.”

According to plea documents filed in the case, between Jan. 1 and July 7, 2016, Kinchen knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced, a 12-year-old girl, Jane Doe 1, to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Kinchen did so for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct to mail, ship, or transport to others.

Kinchen and Applin met at Kinchen’s apartment. After arriving at the apartment, Applin used an Apple iPhone, to produce a video of “Jane Doe 1” engaging in sexual explicit conduct with Kinchen. Applin also used the cellphone to make a video recording of “Jane Doe 1” engaging in sexual explicit conduct with him in the bathroom of the apartment. After the videos were recorded, they were transmitted via the internet by Snapchat and Facebook. “Jane Doe 1” was 12 years of age at the time.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Juanita Fielden, Northern District of Texas, was in charge of these prosecutions.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.