ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Two kids who were abused by their parents repeatedly between 2015 and 2018 will receive a huge payout from the state. Their guardian filed a lawsuit accusing the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department of not doing its job and putting the kids in danger. The lawsuit was settled for $4 million. Story continues below National: WATCH LIVE: Trump to be sworn in as 47th president Weather: Coldest temperatures in years move into New Mexico Crime: APD: Man racks up charges after ramming police vehicle 47 reports of abuse and neglect were sent to CYFD by citizens concerned about the welfare of a seven and eight-year-old. CYFD even admitted to mistakes being made without going into detail leading to a lawsuit by the children's guardian after the children were finally taken from their parents, Terri Sanchez and James Stewart. The lawsuit claimed CYFD failed to properly investigate claims the kids were abused which came up during Stewart's trial, where a teacher expressed frustration over not being listened to. The lawsuit claimed investigators and supervisors were not licensed social workers and lacked the professional skills to properly assess the children's home life. It also claimed the department prioritized getting through a backlog of cases instead of the safety of the children and violated its own policies by falsifying documents to do so. The kids were abused, forced to panhandle for drug money, missed school, weren't properly clothed, and more. You could hear how much they suffered when one of their letters was read during Stewart's sentencing after he was found guilty of numerous child abuse charges. Stewart was sentenced to 26 years. Sanchez was deemed incompetent to stand trial. The children, their guardian, and lawyers will receive $4 million as part of the settlement with the money for the children being put in a trust. The settlement also absolved the state of any wrongdoing.