An indictment of former college basketball star Kerr Kriisa accuses him of stealing $2.2billion from multiple victims while pretending to be multiple different people in need of funds for various reasons.
The court document, obtained by the Daily Mail, reveals that Kriisa has been charged with five counts of wire fraud in a wide-ranging scheme his is accused of operating for nearly four years.
Prosecutors allege Kriisa falsely represented that he and his family ‘faced imminent danger if a victim of his fraudulent scheme did not send him money to pay a debt.’ He also posed as fictional and real third-parties to request funds numerous times, per the filing.
Kriisa is alleged to have posed as various individuals – including fictional contacts and family members – and used multiple different stories to coerce money from victims.
‘Financial fraud schemes erode trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need,’ U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey said in a press release obtained by the Daily Mail.
‘Our office will continue to pursue individuals who exploit others through deception. We are committed to holding them accountable for their actions.’
Former college basketball star Kerr Kriisa is accused of stealing $2.2billion in a fraud scheme
Kriisa is accused of posing as other people and illicitly obtaining funds under the pretense of paying for his mother’s cancer treatments and ‘saving his family’s farm’
Prosecutors allege that around August of 2022, Kriisa falsely told one victim that he obtained a loan to repay her.
After months went by, he then allegedly told the victim that he intended to sell his organs for money to facilitate repayment.
From 2022 to 2024, prosecutors allege in the indictment that Kriisa contacted this same victim – but posed as his mother, requesting money to pay for her ‘alleged cancer treatments.’
This same victim was also allegedly contacted by Kriisa, again falsely depicting himself as his mother, requesting funds to help ‘save the family’s farm.’
In April 2025, prosecutors say in the indictment that Kriisa ‘signed a written agreement, falsely promising to repay [the victim] a total of $100,000 by February 2026.’
The filing accuses Kriisa of targeting a second victim in November of 2025 – posing as a fictional person named ‘Irene’ and requesting money.
He then is accused of telling the second victim to send money to his first victim on the false pretense that his initial target would send the money to him. This was allegedly done seven times between December 22, 2025 through January 2, 2026.
Kriisa also allegedly sent multiple separate requests for money without attempting to facilitate payment through his first victim, per the indictment.
Kriisa (seen at Arizona) allegedly ran the scheme from 2022 up until at least this February
He is accused of continuing to contact his second victim through February – including on February 4, when he sent a message falsely denying that ‘Irene’ was a ‘fake person.’
Prosecutors allege in the filing that Kriisa committed at least five counts of wire fraud between February 1 and February 4 of this year.
US Attorneys are seeking the forfeiture of property illegally obtained in this scheme ‘including a money judgement for the amount of such proceeds, specifically at least approximately $2.2million.’
Kriisa is in the process of being extradited from Kentucky to West Virginia. An initial trial date is set for later this week.
Kriisa played six seasons at four of the biggest programs in college basketball history.
He began his career in 2020 at Arizona after playing in his home nation. Across three seasons, Kriisa made it as far as the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
After his third season with the program, he transferred to West Virginia for the 2023-24 season.
He debated leaving the school in June 2023 before playing a single game for the team following the firing of head coach Bob Huggins after his DUI arrest. However, assistant coach Josh Eilert managed to convince him to stay.
Kriisa played for historic basketball programs like Kentucky over a six-year college career
Kriisa hit the portal once again in 2024 and transferred to the University of Kentucky where he once again lost in the Sweet 16. He ended his college basketball career this past season with the University of Cincinnati.
On June 29, it was announced that Kriisa would be playing for a professional basketball team in Estonia. At the time of publishing, Kriisa’s name is not listed on the team’s roster.
Kriisa was set to take part in ‘The Basketball Tournament’ – a summer tournament for non-NBA professional players – as part of a Kentucky Alumni team called La Familia.
Following his arrest, La Familia confirmed that Kriisa ‘will not be competing’ with them during the tournament.
