Estonian Basketball Player Krissa Faces 20 Years in Prison for Major Fraud Scheme

Krissa, a 25-year-old Estonian basketball player who played alongside Israeli Sean Abiyev this season, has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for orchestrating a large-scale fraud scheme. Once regarded as a promising European talent with potential to play in the EuroLeague, Krissa made his debut with Žalgiris and spent the last six seasons playing college basketball in the United States.

According to the indictment, Krissa allegedly defrauded victims out of approximately $2.2 million over four years by using false pretenses and fake identities. In one instance, he convinced a victim to send money by falsely claiming his mother was battling cancer and needed urgent treatment. In another case, he impersonated his mother to solicit funds to "save" the family farm.

Krissa’s legal troubles come after a challenging season with the University of Cincinnati, where he averaged 5.8 points and 3 assists per game before a shoulder injury in February sidelined him for the remainder of the season. This injury added to a history of physical setbacks.

The arrest is part of a broader crackdown by the U.S. Department of Justice targeting college basketball players and coaches involved in gambling and bribery over the past decade. If convicted, Krissa faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a player once seen as a legitimate EuroLeague prospect.