Former College Basketball Player Indicted on Five Counts of Wire Fraud

Former college basketball player Kerr Kriisa was arrested and indicted Monday on five counts of wire fraud in connection with an alleged scheme that obtained nearly $2.2 million from multiple victims. The Department of Justice said Kriisa used false representations, fabricated identities and deceptive communications over the past four years.

One victim was told that Kriisa's mother required funds for cancer treatment.

He also claimed that he and his family faced danger and supplied fake contacts to support those assertions. A written agreement included in the indictment shows Kriisa promised to repay one victim $100,000 by February 2026, but that payment did not occur. Kriisa played six college basketball seasons, most recently at Cincinnati before suffering a shoulder injury in February.

He began his career at Arizona as part of the 2020 recruiting class, transferred to West Virginia ahead of the 2023-24 season and later played at Kentucky, where a foot injury limited him to nine games. Kriisa is scheduled to appear in federal court this week. U.S.

Attorney Matthew L. Harvey said in a release that financial fraud schemes erode trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need. He added that the office will continue to pursue individuals who exploit others through deception.