CRIME WATCH: 2019 West Seattle raid leads to 30-year sentence for woman found guilty of child sex abuse

A child-sex-abuse case that began with a West Seattle raid five years ago led to a 30-year prison sentence today. Sentenced was 40-year-old Shabnam D. Pilisuk, found guilty by a federal jury a year and a half ago. Federal prosecutors say that a Seattle Police detective “uncovered information about a website that included discussion of incest and child abuse” and learned that Pilisuk was its operator; investigators then found out she “had traveled with an 11-year-old and sexually molested the child.” In March 2019, the news release about the sentencing says:

Seattle Police and Homeland Security Investigations served a judicially authorized search warrant on Pilisuk’s West Seattle home. They seized her electronic devices. The devices were forensically examined and determined to have images of child sexual abuse.

Then in November 2021, prosecutors say, the aforementioned victim disclosed that they had been abused; Pilisuk has been in custody since then and was found guilty on five felony counts last year. For today’s sentencing, federal prosecutors asked for a 45-year sentence; U.S. District Judge Tana Lin ordered Pilisuk to serve two-thirds of that.

10 Replies to "CRIME WATCH: 2019 West Seattle raid leads to 30-year sentence for woman found guilty of child sex abuse"

  • Ronald October 2, 2024 (10:15 pm)

    This doesn’t seem fair. How is the sentence reduced by 2/3? WHY???

    • Guy October 2, 2024 (10:33 pm)

      The sentence was reduced by ⅓, not by ⅔.

      • WSB October 2, 2024 (10:47 pm)

        Actually it wasn’t “reduced” at all. Prosecutors can request whatever they believe is warranted, and the judge makes the final determination – it’s not a “reduction.” Sorry if I generated any confusion by noting that the judge’s decision was two-thirds of the prosecution’s recommendation. The news release details exactly what crimes Pilisuk was found guilty of, and what the sentencing ranges are; here’s the link (which is also in the story)
        https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/former-seattle-tech-worker-who-created-and-promoted-website-urging-incest-and-child

  • WSB October 3, 2024 (12:14 am)

    Thanks to the reader who messaged us to point out that Pilisuk’s surname was misspelled several times. We’ve corrected that.

  • Lola October 3, 2024 (7:36 am)

    Why did it take a year and 1/2 to sentence someone?  That seems extreme?  Are we that backed up for getting sentencing into place?  

  • flimflam October 3, 2024 (8:00 am)

    A raid in 2019? That’s a long time to bring this to resolution. Hope she never experiences freedom again.

  • lucy October 3, 2024 (8:35 am)

    People who violate children should be sent to McNeil Island for the rest of their lives.  

  • Rdubs October 3, 2024 (9:53 am)

    Terrible that this happened but pleasantly surprised this ended with a long sentence. Hopefully the now teenager is experiencing a much better life.

  • Admiral Mom October 3, 2024 (10:34 am)

    So the raid in 2019 found compromising evidence but she was not arrested until two years later? What am I missing? 

  • Anthony October 4, 2024 (7:18 pm)

    45 years is not enough, she ruined this child’s life and I’m sure there have been more. People like this do not change, she deserves a life sentence and that is getting off easy in my opinion. Make pedophiles afraid again!

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