FORT WORTH, TX - A Fort Worth business owner has admitted his role in a wide-ranging fraud scheme that left dozens of North Texas homeowners with unfinished houses and millions of dollars in losses.
Christopher Judge, a managing member of Judge DFW LLC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to federal court records. Prosecutors say Judge and his wife, Raquelle Judge, took nearly $5 million from customers who hired their company for custom home construction and remodeling projects that were never completed.
Between August 2020 and January 2023, the couple marketed Judge DFW as a full-service firm offering custom architecture, construction, and interior design services. Investigators say the business attracted customers by offering below-market bids and claiming Christopher Judge was a licensed architect, a claim that was false.
Victims signed design-and-build contracts and made multiple installment payments as work began. However, many projects were abandoned before completion, in some cases leaving families without a finished residence. Court documents show the defendants frequently used payments from one customer to fund unrelated projects, commingling funds in the company’s operating account.
Federal prosecutors estimate more than 40 victims across six counties in the Northern District of Texas were affected, spanning at least 24 separate construction projects. The total loss is estimated at approximately $4.8 million.
Christopher Judge now faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Raquelle Judge pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum sentence of five years. Both also face restitution, monetary penalties, and supervised release.
Sentencing for Raquelle Judge is scheduled for April 14, 2026, with Christopher Judge set to be sentenced on May 12, 2026. Both hearings will take place before U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Euless Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service Task Force.
