Former Gap man gets prison for drug crimes

A former Big Stone Gap man and a woman have been sentenced to incarceration for their roles in an organization that trafficked methamphetamine, heroin, oxycodone, cocaine and other drugs from Georgia into Southwest Virginia.

Roy Lee Dykes, 61, now living in Watkinsville, Ga., was sentenced last week to 325 months in federal prison, according to a Jan. 17 press release from U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

Dykes was previously convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in addition to cocaine, heroin, alprazolam and oxycodone. Dykes also was convicted of 17 counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.
In December 2019, Leila Varetta “Rita” Hector-Dykes, 57, of Watkinsville, Ga., was sentenced to 121 months in prison. She was previously convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in addition to cocaine, heroin, alprazolam and oxycodone. Hector-Dykes was also convicted of one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of more than $10,000 seized from the defendants and awarded a judgment against them exceeding $108,700.

In all, 11 defendants have now been convicted and sentenced.

The organization operated primarily in Lee and Wise counties from November 2016 through March 1, 2018, when arrests took place along with the seizure of multiple drugs and about $14,000 in cash.

The investigation stemmed from another drug trafficking conspiracy arising out of Lee County, involving seven defendants, all of whom have been convicted and sentenced.

In total, these investigations led to the successful prosecution of 22 defendants and removed at least 3.5 pounds of crystal ice methamphetamine from Southwest Virginia, according to the release.