> At a Glance
> – Christopher and Raquelle Judge admitted defrauding 40+ homeowners of $4.8 million through their firm Judge DFW LLC
> – They abandoned projects, misused funds, and falsely claimed Christopher was a licensed architect
> – Victims spent hundreds of thousands more to fix unsafe, incomplete homes
> – Why it matters: The pleas end a three-year spree that left families bankrupt or homeless and spotlight red flags for hiring contractors
A Fort Worth couple has confessed to a sweeping home-construction scam that took $4.8 million from North Texas families, accepting guilt in federal court after prosecutors said they left clients with unfinished-or dangerously shoddy-houses.
How the Scheme Worked
From August 2020 to January 2023, Christopher Judge and Raquelle Judge lured customers with below-market bids for custom architecture, construction and interior-design work, court filings show.
- They collected installment payments for at least 24 projects across six counties
- Client money was funneled into one operating account and spent on unrelated jobs
- Christopher presented himself as a licensed architect; he was not
- When work slowed, the couple blamed delays and pressed for more cash
One couple paid the Judges $364,000; another homeowner, Kristin Newman, had to sink an extra $200,000 into repairs after the crew framed only walls and a roof.
Victims Left Picking Up the Pieces
Families describe moving into RVs, selling unfinished homes, or filing bankruptcy to survive the fallout.
Kristin Newman told WFAA:
> “He just walked off… Never came back.”
Independent inspectors found code violations so severe that entire decks and staircases had to be demolished and rebuilt.
Jeremy Congleton, forced into bankruptcy, said:
> “What he owes me… about $250,000.”
Where the Money Went
While projects stalled, prosecutors say the Judges spent client funds on:
- $82,000 in Amazon purchases
- $27,000 toward their own mortgage
- $10,000 on plastic surgery
What’s Next
Plea paperwork shows both face restitution plus:
| Defendant | Plea Date | Max Prison | Sentencing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raquelle Judge | Dec. 17, 2025 | 5 years | April 14, 2026 |
| Christopher Judge | Dec. 30, 2025 | 20 years | May 12, 2026 |
Key Takeaways
- More than 40 homeowners lost nearly $5 million in the three-year scam
- Victims caution that unusually low bids can signal trouble
- The couple’s guilty pleas halt any new projects while restitution is decided
With sentencing set for spring 2026, affected families hope the case reminds homeowners to verify licensing and beware deals that seem too good to be true.
