Kerr Kriisa, a 25-year-old former college basketball player and Estonian national, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Thursday, October 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced that Kriisa admitted to his role in a fraud scheme that investigators say totaled millions of dollars.
The investigation found that the scheme dated back to at least 2022 while Kriisa was playing for the University of Arizona. Over several years, Kriisa used false identities and deceptive communications to defraud two individuals. The indictment alleged he falsely claimed his family was in danger, his mother required cancer treatment, or that family property needed financial support to secure payments.
According to court documents, Kriisa used a fictitious email persona named "Irene" in February 2026 to demand $9,000 from one victim. He claimed the payment was necessary to avoid litigation and publicity regarding a financial dispute. The indictment also alleged that Kriisa instructed one victim to transfer money to another under false pretenses and once signed a repayment agreement that he did not honor. Kriisa had a high-profile college career, playing for the University of Arizona, West Virginia University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Cincinnati.
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey stated that such schemes "erode trust" and cause "real harm" to those who believe they are assisting someone in need. Kriisa now faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison for the single count of wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for December 22, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The final determination of his prison term remains at the discretion of the court.