Former Basketball Player Arrested in Fraud Scheme

Kerr Kriisa, a former player for the Kentucky Wildcats, has been arrested and charged in relation to a fraud scheme that reportedly amassed around $2.2 million, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday.

The 6-foot-3 guard, originally from Estonia, played for various colleges including Kentucky, Cincinnati, West Virginia, and Arizona over six seasons. It is alleged that Kriisa executed a plan to defraud multiple victims through false claims, fabricated identities, and misleading communications, as stated in the complaint.

During the 2025-26 season, Kriisa, while playing for the Bearcats, was performing quite well, averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 assists per game until a shoulder injury in February sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

The DOJ indicated that Kriisa’s alleged fraud spanned four years, during which he convinced victims to send him money by claiming his mother had been diagnosed with cancer and required treatment.

Additionally, Kriisa reportedly pretended to be his mother, claiming to need funds to “save” the family farm. According to the indictment, he also impersonated an individual named “Eileen” to falsely promise a victim that he would repay $100,000 by a specific deadline.

The indictment further claims that Kriisa told one victim he had plans to sell his organs to gather the funds needed for repayment.

U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey remarked, “Financial fraud schemes undermine trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need. Our office will continue to pursue those who exploit others through deception and hold them accountable.”

The government is aiming to recover all proceeds related to the alleged crimes, which includes a monetary judgment of approximately $2.2 million against Kriisa.