Kerr Kriisa indicted on wire fraud charges in West Virginia federal court

Kerr Kriisa, a former college basketball guard, was indicted in connection with an alleged $2.2 million fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia announced on Monday.

Kriisa, an Estonian national who plays for Tartu Ülikool in his country, was arrested and will appear in federal court this week after being charged with five counts of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.

Court documents stated that, from 2022 through June 2, 2026, the 25-year-old allegedly carried out a scheme to obtain nearly $2.2 million from multiple victims “using false representations, fabricated identities, and deceptive communications,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in its press release.

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Kerr Kriisa of the Cincinnati Bearcats warms up before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Bearcats, 77-51. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Kriisa’s indictment alleges he posed as several different individuals, which included fictional contacts and family members, while falsely claiming he and his family were in danger. Also, he allegedly said his mother needed cancer treatment, or family property required urgent financial support from victims.

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Kriisa was allegedly requesting repeated payments from two of the victims, while also directing one victim to send money under false pretenses in this case.

He allegedly conducted his scheme in Monongalia County, West Virginia and elsewhere.

Kerr Kriisa of the Cincinnati Bearcats brings the ball up court during a college basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Feb. 5, 2026 at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire)

“Financial fraud schemes erode trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need,” said Harvey in the press release. “Our office will continue to pursue individuals who exploit others through deception. We are committed to holding them accountable for their actions.”

Kriisa allegedly signed a written agreement in April 2025 promising to repay one of his victims $100,000 by February 2026. Prosecutors said this instance was also fraudulent.

The government is currently seeking forfeiture of any proceeds traceable to the alleged offenses from Kriisa, which includes a money judgement of an estimated $2.2 million.

Kerr Kriisa of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 7, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Kriisa’s college basketball career began at Arizona, as he spent three seasons with the Wildcats from 2020-23. He transferred to West Virginia for the 2023-24 season, while also seeing time with the Kentucky Wildcats and Cincinnati Bearcats after that, respectively.

Kriisa averaged 8.8 points and 4.4 assists across 127 career games at the Division I level.

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