SHAHEEN P. TORGOLEY

Shaheen “Shah” Torgoley joined Ryan Rapp Pacheco Sorensen with extensive litigation and investigatory experience. He represents individuals in criminal and administrative matters before state and federal trial and appellate courts; investigates and challenges asset forfeiture claims; and conducts internal investigations stemming from federal and state criminal, civil and regulatory enforcement.

A decorated former federal and state prosecutor with over 15 years of experience, Shah’s background includes a high volume of trial, appellate, and post-conviction litigation in federal and state courts throughout the southwestern United States.

As a white-collar Assistant U.S. Attorney, Shah investigated and prosecuted a range of financial crimes, including identity theft, bank and wire fraud, money laundering, and various tax offenses. During nearly nine years at the Department of Justice, Shah managed an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force in New Mexico and prosecuted large-scale international and domestic drug and gun investigations; managed inquiries into crimes committed by local, state, and tribal police while serving as a Criminal-Civil Rights Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico; and led training and hiring efforts while at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada.

Shah led investigations and litigated organized crime cases involving RICO, ViCAR, and CCE charges against organizations large and small. His list of federal awards reflects the caliber of his service with the Department of Justice at U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Nevada and New Mexico.

Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Shah spent over six years as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona. There, Shah tried nearly 60 cases to verdict, in matters ranging from assault, fraud, and property crimes to drug trafficking and first-degree murder. For three years he specialized in reviewing, managing, and litigating cases involving Title III wiretap warrants—a skill he practiced and evolved throughout his subsequent federal practice. He also tried misdemeanor cases such as DUI and domestic violence before numerous justice courts throughout Maricopa County.

Shah’s appellate practice has included matters before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits, and state cases before the Arizona Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. He has litigated direct appeals, writs to higher courts, special action petitions, and post-conviction matters in state and federal courts, including post-conviction cases stemming from convictions handed down decades ago.

He has regularly provided training to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement on the use of search warrants (including Title III wiretaps), constitutional rights, evidence preservation and discovery rules, and use of force/color of law issues.

Shah’s background enables him to advise clients who face charges brought by any level of government, or those who want to challenge a conviction on appeal or afterward. Shah will also represent clients who are facing asset forfeiture attempts by state or federal government. He can also manage thorough internal investigations, compliance inquiries and administrative proceedings on behalf of clients large and small.

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense and Investigation

White Collar Criminal Defense

Complex Civil & Tort Litigation

Federal Tax Litigation

State and Federal Appeals

Asset Forfeiture

Professional Memberships

State Bar of Arizona

Bar and Court Admissions

Arizona, 2006

U.S. District Court, Arizona

U.S. District Court, New Mexico, 2013

U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2013

U.S. District Court, Nevada, 2019

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2019

U.S. District Court, Colorado, 2022

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 2023

Education

J.D., Tulane University Law School, 2006

B.A., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2003