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Mar 9, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Kerr Kriisa (3) holds the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
While you were out partying this Fourth of July Weekend, enjoying fireworks and everything else on America’s 250th Birthday, former Kentucky Wildcat Kerr Kriisa’s life took a turn for the worse. Like, a really bad and harrowing return.
KSR’s Jack Pilgrim reported Saturday night that Kerr Kriisa was arrested by the FBI in connection with a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme dating back to his time at West Virginia as a Mountaineer in 2023-24.
When I saw the news on my phone while sitting at Great American Ball Park at the Reds game Saturday night, I was shocked. I always thought highly of Kriisa. He was a really intense player on the court, always brought positive energy, and had a toughness to him that was evident in a chase-down defensive stop against Gonzaga in December of 2024…on the same play where he broke his foot. Kentucky came back from down 16 and won that game 90-89 in overtime.
Now, though, all of those good memories are fading. As more details keep coming in about Kriisa’s arrest, the details are harrowing.
According to the indictment obtained by WKYT, Kriisa ran a years-long online scam totaling more than $2.2 million. But that’s not all, and this is where things get really bad.
As WKYT reports, 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.
Just reading all of that, how do you even process this? How does one even think about doing things like this? It’s just completely horrifying all the way around.
Last week at this time, I was excited about Kriisa joining La Famillia for the upcoming TBT Tournament. That’s obviously not happening now, which La Famillia confirmed on Twitter.
If convicted, the government is seeking forfeiture of at least $2.2 million, which prosecutors allege are fraud proceeds.
Kriisa will be extradited back to West Virginia this week, with a court week also scheduled for this week.
You can read the full indictment on WKYT’s website.
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