A former college basketball player has admitted to wire fraud in a case that federal prosecutors say took almost $2.2 million from two people over several years. His name is Kerr Kriisa, he’s 25, and he’s an Estonian national.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, based in Clarksburg, announced the plea on October 8, 2026. Kriisa pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He’s set to be sentenced on December 22, 2026.
Who Is Kerr Kriisa?
Kriisa played six college seasons at four schools. He was at Arizona from 2020 to 2023, then West Virginia, then Kentucky, and most recently Cincinnati in 2025-26.
What Prosecutors Say He Did
He was first charged in July. The original case had five counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors say the scheme ran from 2022 through June 2026, and it started back when he played at Arizona.
According to court documents, he used false stories, made-up identities and fake messages to get money from two victims. He allegedly kept asking them for payments again and again. At times, he told one victim to send money to the other one under false pretenses.
Here are some of the stories prosecutors say he used:
- That his family was in danger
- That his mother needed cancer treatment
- That the family farm needed money to be saved
He also allegedly posed as his own mother, using the name “Irene,” plus other people.
The Fake Repayment Promise
In April 2025, he reportedly signed a written agreement promising to pay one victim back $100,000 by February 2026. Prosecutors say that agreement was fraud too, and the money was never repaid.
The $9,000 Email
The plea itself is tied to one email. In February 2026, Kriisa admitted he wrote to one of the victims while pretending to be “Irene.” He demanded $9,000 to avoid litigation and publicity over a made-up money dispute.
What the Plea Deal Says
Four of the five wire fraud counts were dropped as part of the deal. One outlet reports the agreement caps his prison time at 24 months. That cap comes from only one report, so check the final court documents before relying on it. The government is also seeking a money judgment of about $2.2 million.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey said “financial fraud is not a game” and that his office will go after people who commit it no matter how famous or successful they are.
Where the Case Stands
He has pleaded guilty, so this is no longer just an accusation. A judge will decide the actual sentence at the December 22 hearing.