MSU Northern Football Player Busted Dealing Fentanyl

An out of state football player who was attending MSU-Northern in Havre was busted for dealing fentanyl, and has now been sentenced to 60 months in prison.

According to US Attorney Kurt Alme, a North Carolina man who distributed fentanyl at MSU Northern was sentenced today to 60 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. 

A press release from the US Attorney's office says that 23 year old Joel Hadley, III pleaded guilty in September of 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Hadley Targeted Native Americans

"The government alleged in court documents that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement received information that Joel Hadley III, a football player, was trafficking fentanyl from student housing on the campus of Montana State University - Northern (MSU-N) in Havre. Reporting indicated Hadley was selling large amounts of fentanyl to Native Americans from the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation."

A confidential source with a monitoring device was key to the arrest and prosecution.

"A federal search warrant for Hadley’s residence was granted and executed in September 2023. Law enforcement seized a firearm and loaded magazine, a plastic bag containing fentanyl, and $861 in U.S. currency."

According to the press release, "Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers prosecuted the case. The FBI, DEA, U.S. Border Patrol and Tri-Agency Task Force conducted the investigation."