by Texas — A young North Texas couple who posed as trendy home-renovation contractors have admitted to running a nearly $5 million fraud scheme that left more than 40 homeowners with unfinished, unsafe houses while the pair spent client money on personal luxuries, including plastic surgery and online shopping, federal prosecutors say.
Fake contractors targeted clients through social media
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Christopher Judge and his wife Raquelle Judge defrauded clients between August 2020 and January 2023 through their company, Judge DFW LLC.
Prosecutors say the couple marketed themselves heavily on social media, presenting a polished image inspired by viral home-renovation shows and claiming Christopher was a licensed architect — a credential investigators later determined was false.
In total, about 40 clients were misled, with at least 24 construction projects forming the basis of the federal fraud case.
Below-market bids lured families in
Victims reported a consistent pattern: the Judges offered significantly lower bids than competing contractors, explaining the discounts by claiming they were just starting out and eager to build a client base.
That pitch convinced many families, including Lane Simmons and his wife, who found the couple through a local moms’ social media group.
“They really pitched themselves as this Chip and Joanna Gaines type of vibe,” Simmons told WFAA.
Instead, Simmons said his family was left with a home riddled with dangerous construction flaws.
Homes left unstable and unsafe
Simmons said nearly everything the Judges touched in his house had to be redone.
“My tile is cracking. My floors are cracking. My kitchen floor is sinking in,” he said. “The staircase had to be torn out and rebuilt. It was only held up by one piece of board. Just code violation after code violation.”
He estimates paying the Judges more than $200,000, then spending even more to correct their work.
“This is like the worst job I’ve probably ever seen,” Simmons said, recalling a contractor friend’s reaction after inspecting the home.
Contractors allegedly vanished mid-project
Another victim, Kristin Newman, hired the Judges to build her dream home from scratch. As delays mounted and construction problems became obvious, she demanded answers — then Christopher Judge allegedly disappeared.
“He just walked off,” Newman told. “He just stopped talking to us. Never came back.”
She said she paid the Judges $200,000, then had to spend another $200,000 to finish the house with a new contractor.
“This wasn’t just a bad business decision,” Newman told NBC DFW. “He chose to lie. He chose to steal. And Raquelle chose to lie and to steal along with him.”
A third victim reportedly filed for bankruptcy after being left with an unfinished, uninhabitable home.
Money spent on plastic surgery and shopping
Federal investigators say the Judges used approximately $865,000 of client funds for personal expenses rather than construction costs.
According to court records, those expenses included:
- $10,000 on plastic surgery
- $82,000 on Amazon purchases
- Other personal and lifestyle spending unrelated to client projects
Meanwhile, victims reported unpaid suppliers, missing materials they had already funded, and projects abandoned without explanation.
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Lies about architectural credentials uncovered
Several homeowners, including Simmons, pursued civil lawsuits and hired independent inspectors. Those inspections revealed Christopher Judge was not a licensed architect, despite repeated claims to clients that he was.
Other victims described similar experiences, including poor communication, unfulfilled promises, and sudden abandonment once payments were made.
Guilty pleas entered in federal court
Both defendants have now pleaded guilty in federal court.
- Raquelle Judge pleaded guilty on December 17 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She faces up to five years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.
- Christopher Judge pleaded guilty on December 30 to the same charge and faces up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is set for May 12.
Families left rebuilding lives and homes
For victims, the guilty pleas bring some accountability — but little relief from the financial and emotional toll.
Many families say their homes were unsafe to live in, forcing them to spend hundreds of thousands more just to make them structurally sound.
Have you or someone you know been burned by a contractor scam? Share your experience or advice for homeowners in the comments to help others avoid falling victim to similar schemes.
