(WKYT) – Federal prosecutors say former University of Kentucky basketball player Kerr Kriisa ran a years-long online scam totaling more than $2.2 million, according to an indictment.
Kriisa was arrested by FBI agents on Friday, July 3, and is expected to be extradited to West Virginia in connection with alleged fraud charges.
Alleged scheme
Court documents say Kriisa lied to two victims beginning in 2022, claiming his family was in danger, his mother needed cancer treatment, and the family farm needed saving.
Prosecutors allege Kriisa invented a fake person named “Irene,” sending emails and texts to pressure a second victim into sending money — funds that were sometimes routed through the first victim.
Potential penalties
If convicted, the government is seeking forfeiture of at least $2.2 million, which prosecutors allege are fraud proceeds.
Kriisa is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
[READ THE FULL INDICTMENT BELOW]
The arrest comes days after Kriisa was announced as a member of La Familia, the Kentucky alumni team set to play in The Basketball Tournament. La Familia said last week that Kriisa was expected to make his debut in a best-of-three series against The Ville, a Louisville alumni squad, beginning July 18 at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.
La Familia posted on X that Kriisa will no longer be playing.