A Nebraska man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday for producing child pornography.

Cody Childers, 21, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, must also serve ten years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say Childers used Facebook to “friend” minor girls in Nebraska and outside of the state. Acting United States Attorney Robert Stuart said Childers requested sexually explicit photographs from the victims. The three girls in Nebraska were between the ages of 13 and 15 when he obtained the photographs. Stuart said Childers also asked minors in other states to take and send sexually explicit photographs.