Former University of Kentucky basketball player Kerr Kriisa, 25, has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge tied to a multimillion-dollar scheme.
According to court records, Kriisa, who is originally from Estonia, admitted to deceiving two victims out of more than $2 million beginning in 2022 while he was playing college basketball at the University of Arizona. Prosecutors say he falsely claimed family emergencies, including threats to loved ones, medical expenses, and financial hardships, to persuade victims to send money.
Authorities also allege that Kriisa directed one victim to transfer funds to another under misleading circumstances and signed a repayment agreement that was never honored. Investigators further say he later used a fake identity in an email seeking an additional $9,000 from one of the victims.
As part of the plea agreement, Kriisa acknowledged his role in the fraud scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 22 and could face up to two years in federal prison.