Former West Virginia University guard Kerr Kriisa pleaded guilty to wire fraud Thursday in a federal case involving nearly $2.2 million in alleged fraud against two victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Kriisa, 25, admitted to one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. The former Mountaineer played at Arizona before transferring to WVU for the 2023-24 season. He later played at Kentucky and Cincinnati. Read more: Former WVU guard Kerr Kriisa pleads guilty to wire fraud.
According to the DOJ, the scheme dates back to at least 2022, when Kriisa was still playing at Arizona. The indictment accused him of repeatedly asking two people for money under false pretenses.
Kriisa used fake identity to demand $9,000
One incident detailed in the plea agreement happened in February 2026. According to the DOJ, Kriisa emailed one of the victims while pretending to be someone named “Irene” through a fake email account he had created.
The email demanded $9,000 to avoid litigation and publicity surrounding a financial dispute.
The DOJ said the incident was one of several acts connected to the larger scheme. According to the indictment, Kriisa repeatedly requested payments from two victims and sometimes directed one person to send money to the other under false pretenses.
The indictment also alleged that Kriisa signed an agreement promising to repay one of the victims but never followed through.
When the charges were announced in July, Harvey said Kriisa allegedly took advantage of people who wanted to help him. The DOJ’s earlier announcement described claims involving fabricated emergencies, false identities and requests for money tied to supposed family problems.
Authorities alleged that the scheme brought in nearly $2.2 million from victims in Monongalia County and elsewhere between 2022 and June 2, 2026.
Kriisa set for December sentencing
Kriisa’s plea agreement includes an agreement from the government not to recommend a prison sentence longer than 24 months.
The DOJ announced Kriisa is scheduled to be sentenced on December 22, 2026. The hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. before Northern District Judge John P. Bailey in Wheeling.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case, and the FBI is conducting the investigation, according to the DOJ.
WVNews also reported on what happened in court Thursday. According to the outlet, Kriisa’s attorney, First Assistant Federal Public Defender L. Richard Walker, told Magistrate Judge Michael J. Aloi that he and his client did not have a “viable defense” if the case went to trial.
WVNews also reported that Kriisa told the judge he was receiving treatment for a gambling addiction. Kriisa will remain on supervised pre-sentence release in Kentucky while awaiting sentencing.
Kriisa’s college basketball career
Kriisa played at Arizona before making the move to Morgantown for the 2023-24 season. He spent one year with the Mountaineers before transferring to Kentucky for 2024-25.
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He finished his college career at Cincinnati in 2025-26. Injuries limited him to nine games with the Wildcats and 19 appearances with the Bearcats.
Kriisa’s federal case now moves to sentencing, which is scheduled for December in Wheeling.
