When it comes to fraud schemes, most criminals at least attempt to create an exit strategy. Christopher and Raquelle Judge, a married couple from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, apparently never got that memo.
Their recently concluded wire fraud case reveals a scheme so poorly planned that it raises serious questions about how they thought it would end in anything other than disaster.
Starting in August 2020, the Judges launched Judge DFW, an LLC they marketed through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as a one-stop shop for custom home construction and interior design. They initially targeted local mom groups on Facebook, positioning themselves as the Chip and Joanna Gaines of their area.
Christopher Judge specifically claimed to be an architect, though he held no such credentials.
Their pitch was compelling: below-market bids and completion timelines of just four to six months. Over the course of their operation, they secured approximately $5 million from 40 clients across 25 projects. The number of projects they actually completed? Zero.
The scheme’s mechanics were straightforward but devastating. After signing contracts, clients would make installment payments that were deposited into the business account. However, these funds were immediately mixed with both other clients’ money and the Judges’ personal finances. This commingling created a chaotic financial situation where one client’s money would fund materials for another project, while significant portions simply funded the couple’s lifestyle.
According to court documents, out of approximately $6.1 million deposited into the business account, the Judges spent roughly $865,000 on personal expenses. This included $285,000 in payroll to themselves, $133,000 in cash withdrawals, $82,000 at Amazon, $27,000 on their personal mortgage, and notably, $10,000 on plastic surgery. They even spent $70,000 on legal fees and lawsuits, suggesting problems were mounting even as they continued their operation.
The construction work itself was consistently substandard when it happened at all. The Judges employed low-quality contractors whom they frequently failed to pay. The work that was completed often violated building codes, with the couple receiving 424 citations from code enforcement.
When clients questioned delays or problems, the Judges would make excuses and promises, assuring them everything would work out if they just continued making payments. If that didn’t satisfy concerned clients, the couple would simply ghost them entirely.
The human cost was staggering. Kristen Newman lost roughly $200,000 and had to spend an equal amount hiring someone else to complete her Cleburne home construction. Jeremy Congleton lost $400,000 on a home in Decatur that was never finished, forcing his family to live in a camper for 18 months. His two daughters went without Christmas for three years.
Perhaps most baffling is that Christopher Judge continued his architect charade even after the Texas Board of Architecture formally notified him in May 2022 that he was violating the Texas Administrative Code by using that title without proper licensing. He apparently ignored this warning until federal authorities became involved.
The fundamental question remains: what was their endgame? Unlike digital scams involving cryptocurrency or NFTs where perpetrators might hide behind online anonymity, the Judges were working with physical homes. People notice when they’ve paid hundreds of thousands of dollars and their house remains unfinished. The scheme was charging below-market rates while failing to pay contractors, making it financially unsustainable from the start.
Federal authorities filed a criminal complaint on August 11, 2025, followed by an indictment on September 3. In December, both defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Chris faces up to 20 years at his sentencing scheduled for May 12, 2026, while Raquelle faces five years at her April 14, 2026 hearing. Both will be required to pay restitution.
The couple has four young children, the youngest under two years old. Raquelle’s legal team has requested keeping their sentencing dates separate to allow time to arrange childcare, though prosecutors have pushed for combined hearings to accommodate the numerous individuals who wish to provide impact statements.
