Former NCAA Basketball Player Kerr Kriisa Indicted on Wire Fraud Charges, No Point-Shaving Accusations

A former University of West Virginia basketball player, Kerr Kriisa, has been charged with five counts of wire fraud following the unsealing of an indictment in the US District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. The charges relate to a comprehensive $2.2 million fraudulent scheme. Notably, initial reports and public speculation surrounding potential match-fixing or point-shaving activities were not reflected in the multi-count indictment.

The indictment details a multi-year fraudulent operation initiated by Kriisa in 2022 and continuing through June of this year. Prosecutors allege that Kriisa sought to illicitly obtain millions from multiple victims by employing false representations, fabricating identities, and engaging in deceptive communication tactics.

Among the specific allegations, Kriisa reportedly posed as his mother, Kersti Kull, to solicit funds under the false pretense of financing her cancer treatments. The scheme also involved him allegedly impersonating an individual named "Irene" on several occasions to secure payments from one victim, with these attempts culminating in February 2026. Furthermore, Kriisa is accused of sending emails to another victim over a three-year period, stretching into 2024, claiming he needed financial assistance to save his family's farm, again posing as his mother. At one point, in November 2022, while playing for the University of Arizona, he falsely told a victim he intended to sell his organs to repay them. US Attorney Matthew Harvey underscored the gravity of such deception, stating, "Financial fraud schemes erode trust and cause real harm to victims who believed they were helping someone in need."

Kriisa, an Estonian native, was arrested by the FBI over the July 4th holiday in connection with these charges and is currently awaiting extradition to West Virginia. During his NCAA Division I career, he played for the University of Arizona from 2020-23, followed by stints at West Virginia and Kentucky, and most recently appearing in 19 games for the University of Cincinnati during the 2025-26 season. After departing Cincinnati, he signed with Tartu Ülikool in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League.

Broader College Basketball Betting Investigations

These charges against Kriisa arrive amidst ongoing scrutiny of betting-related scandals within college basketball. A separate and extensive point-shaving scheme, which has implicated over a dozen players across more than 17 teams, continues to unfold. In this separate case, lead defendant Jalen Smith saw his sentencing hearing in Philadelphia postponed to October after attorneys requested a delay. Meanwhile, four other defendants, including three former players, are scheduled for change of plea hearings on July 29.

Among those facing upcoming hearings, former University of New Orleans guard Dyquavion Short is accused of fixing three games during the 2024-25 season. Shawn Fulcher, a former University of Buffalo guard, is expected to change his not guilty plea, facing allegations of intentionally underperforming in multiple 2023-24 games and recruiting other players into the scheme. Bradley Ezewiro, who played for four Division I programs, including the University of Saint Louis, is also implicated for allegedly attempting to recruit players like Da’Sean Nelson from DePaul.

In an unrelated development, a former DraftKings trader, Samuel Silverman, faces criminal charges in Nevada for his alleged involvement in a scheme with a former Fresno State basketball player. Last September, the NCAA permanently banned Mykell Robinson, the ex-Fresno State player, and his former roommate Steven Vasquez, for manipulating wagers on Robinson's statistical under totals in games, including a January 2025 loss to Colorado State.

According to reports, Silverman allegedly received a portion of the profits from these fraudulent wagers. DraftKings has stated that Silverman's trading responsibilities did not include college basketball. Silverman has entered a not guilty plea to multiple felony charges, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board has indicated it is