Former Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal wire fraud charges, marking the latest development in a case that has drawn significant attention from the college basketball world.
According to court records, Kriisa waived his right to appear for the formal reading of the indictment and entered a not guilty plea through his legal counsel.
The Estonian basketball player is facing five counts of wire fraud after federal prosecutors accused him of participating in an alleged scheme that defrauded two individuals of more than $2.2 million over several years. Investigators claim Kriisa obtained money by making false claims that his mother was battling cancer, his family was in danger, and that their family farm urgently needed financial assistance.
Kriisa made his initial appearance in federal court in Lexington earlier this week. The case is now set to move forward, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 16 in West Virginia. Both sides must submit any pretrial motions by July 20, while a status conference is scheduled for July 28.
If the case is not resolved beforehand, the trial is expected to begin on August 25 in Wheeling, West Virginia.
The legal proceedings come just days after Kriisa was announced as a member of La Familia, Kentucky’s alumni team competing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). However, following news of the federal charges, the organization quickly removed him from its roster.
La Familia general manager Twany Beckham expressed disappointment over the situation, saying he had hoped the tournament would give Kriisa a fresh opportunity after injuries limited his time at Kentucky.
“I was excited to have him back,” Beckham said. “He never really got the chance to show what he could do because of his injury. This was supposed to be a new beginning, but I was deeply disappointed when I learned about the allegations and the decisions that led to them.”
Kriisa’s case remains in its early stages. By pleading not guilty, he denies the allegations, and under the U.S. legal system he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The upcoming hearings will determine how the case proceeds before the scheduled August trial.
