Welcome to Arrest Stories. A former college basketball guard with stops at four major programs has been arrested by the FBI and indicted on five counts of wire fraud connected to a two point two million dollar scheme. Heres what may have happened.
On Monday, the Department of Justice announced that twenty five year old Kerr Kriisa, a six foot three guard from Estonia, had been arrested by the FBI and indicted by a Northern District of West Virginia grand jury. Kriisa is being extradited to West Virginia, where he is scheduled to appear in federal court on five counts of wire fraud.
According to the DOJ, Kriisa allegedly carried out a scheme to obtain nearly two point two million dollars from multiple victims using false representations, fabricated identities, and deceptive communications. Prosecutors allege the scheme was conducted over a four year timeframe, spanning from August twenty twenty two through June twenty twenty six, occurring in West Virginia and elsewhere.
Court documents allege that Kriisa posed as various individuals, including fictional contacts and family members, to solicit payments from victims. In one instance, Kriisa allegedly posed as his own mother in an email, claiming he needed money to cover cancer treatments. He also allegedly told victims his family was in danger, that money was needed urgently to save a family farm, and that he intended to sell his organs to repay one victim. In April twenty twenty five, Kriisa allegedly signed a written agreement falsely promising to repay one victim one hundred thousand dollars by February twenty twenty six. Prosecutors also allege that Kriisa at times directed one victim to send money directly to the other.
Kriisa played college basketball across six seasons from twenty twenty to twenty twenty six, appearing at Arizona, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Cincinnati. His best statistical season came at West Virginia in twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four, where he averaged eleven points, four point seven assists, and two point five rebounds per game. He most recently averaged five point eight points and three point zero assists in nineteen games at Cincinnati during the twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six season.
He had been announced as a participant for La Familia, the Kentucky alumni team competing in The Basketball Tournament. On July fifth, team leaders posted on X, quote, We are aware of the allegations regarding Kerr Kriisa. Kerr will not be competing with La Familia during the TBT Tournament. We will have no further comment, end quote.
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey stated, quote, 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, end quote.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas and remains under active FBI investigation. The government is seeking forfeiture of any proceeds traceable to the alleged offenses, including a money judgment of approximately two point two million dollars.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.