Tracy Mortimer
May 2025
Skip to main contentSkip to main content      Share This Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email People are also reading… Woman charged with trying to run over man Woman charged with threatening drive-thru customer with handgun Rural Nevada's first birth tissue donation program comes to Winnemucca Man charged with pointing gun at woman in Walmart parking lot Man faces charges of sexual assault of a teen at park Presented By Featured Top Story Editor's Pick Crime Couple charged with selling drugs from Idaho Street motel room Staff report 13 hrs ago 0  Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Copy article link Save Staff report ELKO — A husband and wife were jailed on charges of selling drugs out of an Idaho Street motel room. Joseph C. Eley, 53, and Helen C. Eley, 44, were arrested on April 29 on felony possession of controlled substance charges. According to court documents, Elko police received a tip on April 28 about Joseph Eley possibly selling narcotics, including fentanyl powder, from a room at the Holiday Motel, 1276 Idaho St. The room was registered under Helen Eley’s name, the court records show. The next day, the Elko Police Crime Suppression Unit began surveillance on the room and spotted “activity consistent with drug sales,” such as people and vehicles coming and going from the couple's room, staying just briefly. Police conducted a traffic stop on one vehicle that left the motel in which the occupants “were all known drug users,” with one individual stating they had smoked fentanyl within the hour but would not say where. Authorities obtained a warrant and searched the Eleys' room just before 8 p.m. on April 29. Officers found fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a scale, empty plastic bags, brass knuckles, a pay and owe sheet and a high-powered .22 caliber air rifle spread throughout the room, with some items “not hidden and easily seen.” According to the public documents, Helen Eley said she had prescription medication in the bathroom, where methamphetamine was located, and that she knew what a “tooter” was and how it is used, but said “she was completely unaware of any drugs being in the room.” Officers said due to the “amount of paraphernalia and drugs found inside the shared room, it is unlikely Helen would be unaware of its presence” and “drug deals occurring in the room while she was present.” According to the documents, Helen Eley said she was present in the room during suspected drug transactions that had been observed by the Crime Suppression Unit. She was arrested and charged with one count of felony possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams. Joseph Eley said the fentanyl powder belonged to him but he used it and did not sell it. He added “the reason his room had so much foot traffic” was due to “people just stopping by to hang out with him,” according to the court documents. Police believed due to the evidence of narcotics and drug sales, known drug users visiting his motel room, more plastic bags found in his vehicle and Joseph Eley’s admission of traveling to Reno for fentanyl and criminal history of manufacturing and delivering drugs, “it appeared not likely Joseph was just simply consuming the fentanyl” found in the search, according to the documents. Joesph Eley was charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance for sale and gross misdemeanor possession of a dangerous weapon. A convicted felon, he was also charged with one count of felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Helen Eley’s bail was set at $10,000. Joseph Eley’s bail was set 
