Kerr Kriisa, a former guard for the University of West Virginia, has been indicted on five counts of wire fraud related to a fraudulent scheme amounting to $2.2 million. The indictment was made public on Monday in the US District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Although prior reports suggested Kriisa could face charges for bribery related to sporting events, the official charges do not include point-shaving offenses.
Kriisa participated in 19 games for the University of Cincinnati during the 2025-26 season, marking the end of his six-year tenure in NCAA Division I basketball. Originally from Estonia, Kriisa signed with Tartu Ülikool in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League following his time at Cincinnati. He previously played three seasons at the University of Arizona from 2020 to 2023, as well as a season each at West Virginia and Kentucky.
He is the son of Valmo Kriisa, who was a member of the Estonian national basketball team. The indictment alleges that Kriisa falsely posed as his mother, Kersti Kull, to solicit funds for non-existent cancer treatments. In a statement, US Attorney Matthew Harvey emphasized the detrimental impact of financial fraud schemes, saying, "Financial fraud schemes erode trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need. Our office will continue to pursue individuals who exploit others through deception. We are committed to holding them accountable for their actions."
Kriisa was arrested by the FBI on July 4 during celebrations for the nation’s 250th birthday. He appeared in nine games for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024-25 season and is currently awaiting extradition to West Virginia. The indictment suggests that Kriisa initiated a plan starting in 2022 to defraud individuals within the Northern District of West Virginia, a scheme that prosecutors say continued until June of this year.
Prosecutors detail that Kriisa attempted to mislead multiple victims into providing funds through false identities and deceptive communications. Notably, in February 2026, he allegedly impersonated someone named "Irene" to extract money from an identified victim referred to as "Victim 2." In earlier attempts, Kriisa contacted another individual, dubbed "Victim 1," over three years to garner help for saving his family’s farm while pretending to be his mother. During a pivotal moment in November 2022, while playing for Arizona, he reportedly claimed he would sell his organs to repay the victim.
The indictment outlines several emails and messages tied to the scheme, including five wire transmissions linked to the charges. However, Kriisa has not been charged with any violations concerning bribery in sporting competitions, unlike several others involved in a larger sports betting investigation in Brooklyn.
In related news, an ongoing point-shaving scheme has affected more than a dozen players across at least 17 college teams. The lead defendant, Jalen Smith, recently had his sentencing hearing delayed to October after he previously pleaded guilty. Additionally, four other defendants, including three players, are scheduled to enter change of plea hearings on July 29. Among these players, Dyquavion Short, a former guard at the University of New Orleans, is alleged to have fixed three games during the 2024-25 season.
In another matter, a former DraftKings trader in Nevada faces criminal charges linked to an alleged scheme involving a former Fresno State basketball player. Last September, the NCAA issued permanent bans to several players for betting on games. Ex-Fresno State player Mykell Robinson is accused of colluding with ex-roommate Steven Vasquez to manipulate wagers before the Bulldogs' loss against Colorado State in January 2025. The NCAA alleges that they, along with another individual, placed numerous bets on Robinson's performance. Samuel Silverman, the former DraftKings trader involved, faces felony charges while maintaining his not guilty plea, as confirmed by his attorney.
