Former Seattle tech worker sentenced to 30 years in prison for child sexual abuse

A 40-year-old Seattle woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for five federal crimes related to child sex abuse, U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman announced Wednesday. The investigation revealed that Shabnam Dawn Pilisuk had traveled with an 11-year-old and sexually abused the child.

Pilisuk was convicted in March 2023 after a four-day jury trial.

According to the files, a Seattle Police Department detective discovered a website discussing incest and child abuse, revealing Pilisuk as the founder and operator. The website is no longer active.

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At the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin told Pilisuk: “You committed one of the most heinous crimes, perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of the community: children.”

In March 2019, Seattle Police and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Pilisuk’s Seattle home, seizing electronic devices containing images of child sexual abuse. In November 2021, a victim disclosed abuse that began when the child was 11 years old.

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The jury convicted Pilisuk of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 12, production of child pornography, two counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and possession of child pornography.

Asking for a 45-year prison sentence, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Harmon said: “The seriousness of Pilisuk’s crimes cannot be overstated: she raped and abused a child, made the child available to like-minded friends to also to abuse, and organized an online community. in support of incest and child sexual abuse.”

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.

Pilisuk has been in custody since her arrest in 2021.

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill further X and email him here.