A North Texas couple is facing substantial prison time after pleading guilty to defrauding over 40 homeowners in a scheme involving nearly $5 million, as reported by FOX 4 News. Christopher Judge, who falsely claimed to be an architect, and his wife Raquelle, operated under the guise of offering below-market bids for custom home building and remodeling services through their company, Judge DFW LLC.
Documents from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas detail that the Judges commenced their fraudulent activities in August 2020, continuing through to January 2023. FOX 4 News revealed that the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners had previously warned Christopher Judge against representing himself as an architect. Despite this, the couple managed to secure contracts based on these misrepresentations and used these funds for personal expenses such as living costs, mortgage payments, and plastic surgery instead of completing the contracted construction projects. Victims from six North Texas counties have been left in the lurch, with unfinished homes marring their lives.
The federal investigation, which included efforts by the FBI's Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Euless Police Department, with additional assistance from the U.S. Secret Service Task Force, uncovered that several construction projects were started but subsequently abandoned. Moreover, WFAA reported that customer payments were commingled in the company's operating account and frequently funneled to unrelated projects.
Christopher Judge has been convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in federal prison. His wife, Raquelle, who also pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, could see a maximum of five years behind bars. According to FOX 4 News, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Richard Roper, not connected to this case, remarked on its implications, saying, "You just need to be careful about who you give the money to. If is too good to be true, it’s probably not true.” Sentencing for Raquelle is expected on April 14, 2026, with Christopher's to follow on May 12.
