Guam - Raymond Ignacio Duenas' 25-year sentence and conviction have been overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Duenas and his wife Lourdes were sentenced in December 2009 after they were convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride and possession with the intent to distribute. 

Raymond was also convicted of using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possession of stolen firearms.  The couple was arrested when police executed a search warrant at their Astumbo home in 2008 and found hundreds of items believed to be stolen and exchanged for drugs.  The couple tried to have the evidence seized from the raid suppressed because the media was present during the search. 

The 9th Circuit found that the evidence sufficiently demonstrated that the materials found in the couple's room were under "Lou's" dominion and control supporting her conviction.  The appellate court however vacated ray's sentence and reversed his conviction because the district court allowed a deceased police officer's suppressing hearing testimony into evidence. 

The 9th Circuit found that Duenas was not able to cross-examine the officer.