Former IRS Employee Charged with Fraud
A former federal employee, Arios Williams, is accused of defrauding the government of over $3.5 million in relief funds tied to the pandemic. Williams, previously an SBA loan officer, reportedly reached out to individuals on Instagram, promising to approve fraudulent grant applications for a fee.
In a separate case, former college basketball player Kerr Kriisa has been indicted for his involvement in a $2.2 million fraud scheme, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia. Kriisa, who hails from Estonia and plays for Tartu Urikur, will appear in federal court facing five counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Kriisa allegedly executed his scheme between 2022 and June 2, 2026, obtaining nearly $2.2 million from several victims by making false promises and using fake identities, as reported in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Kriisa is said to have impersonated multiple individuals, including supposed family members, falsely claiming they were in danger. He would also mention that his mother required cancer treatment and that urgent financial help was needed for their family.
The indictment suggests that he repeatedly demanded payments from two victims and misled one into sending money under false pretenses. This alleged activity took place not just in Monongalia County, West Virginia, but also in other areas.
Matthew L. Harvey, the U.S. Attorney, remarked that, “Financial fraud schemes undermine trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need.” He reaffirmed the commitment to pursue those who engage in deceptive practices.
In April 2025, Kriisa purportedly signed an agreement to repay one victim $100,000 by February 2026, yet prosecutors allege that this agreement was part of the fraudulent activities.
The government is now looking to recover proceeds from Kriisa’s alleged crimes, pursuing a monetary judgment totaling around $2.2 million.
Kriisa began his college basketball career in Arizona, playing for the Wildcats for three seasons before transferring to West Virginia for one season. He later played for both the Kentucky Wildcats and the Cincinnati Bearcats. Over the course of his Division I career, he participated in 127 games, averaging 8.8 points and 4.4 assists.
