Texas Couple Who ‘Pitched Themselves as Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Plead Guilty to $5 Million Home Building Scheme

A Fort Worth couple has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges after prosecutors said they defrauded homeowners out of nearly $5 million by promising custom homes and renovations that were never completed.

Christopher Judge and his wife, Raquelle Judge, admitted in federal court that between August 2020 and January 2023 they conspired to deceive customers through their company, Judge DFW LLC, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

Prosecutors said the couple collected millions of dollars in installment payments for custom architecture, construction, and interior design services—often offering bids below market rates—before abandoning projects. In some cases, families were left without livable homes.

Federal authorities said the Judges accepted multiple payments from victims after starting construction but routinely failed to finish the work, leaving projects incomplete and homeowners in limbo.

Court documents state that more than 40 victims across six North Texas counties were affected, involving at least 24 construction projects with losses totaling approximately $4.8 million. One couple alone paid nearly $364,000.

As part of the scheme, prosecutors said Christopher Judge falsely represented himself as a licensed architect. Investigators also alleged that the couple pooled client payments into a single operating account and used funds from one project to cover unrelated expenses and jobs.

Christopher pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Raquelle pleaded guilty on Dec. 17 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to five years behind bars. Both could also be ordered to pay restitution, fines, and serve periods of supervised release.

Raquelle is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2026. Christopher’s sentencing is set for May 12, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.

For many homeowners, the guilty pleas brought a measure of closure after years of financial strain and emotional stress.

Kristin Newman told WFAA that she hired the Judges to build what she believed would be her dream home after paying off her law school loans. “I was planning on kind of growing into this house,” Newman said.

She explained that Raquelle handled most of the communication, while Christopher was presented as “the architect and builder.”

Lane Simmons and his wife, Kalie Simmons, said they had a similar experience when they hired the Judges to remodel their Euless family home. Lane told WFAA the couple pitched themselves with a polished, TV-style renovation image, likening the presentation to celebrity home renovators.

Initially, progress appeared promising. “It started out great,” Newman said, noting there were no early issues. Kalie’s mother, Chelle Bish, told NBC-DFW that the Judges arrived with a full crew and stripped the home down to the studs on the first day.

But the momentum didn’t last. Within a month or two, Kalie said work slowed significantly, and concerns about construction quality began to surface. Newman said delays mounted on her project as well, and materials she paid for—such as windows and doors—never arrived.

When she asked for refunds for missing items and incomplete work, Newman said Christopher told her the money was gone. Eventually, she said, he stopped responding entirely. “He just walked off,” Newman told WFAA. “He just stopped talking to us. Never came back.”

Federal court records describe those actions as part of a broader pattern, alleging the couple collected installment payments, performed substandard work, failed to pay subcontractors, and abandoned projects. Prosecutors said that when homeowners questioned delays, Christopher offered excuses through calls and text messages, assuring them that continued payments would keep work moving.

Instead, investigators allege the Judges spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on personal expenses, including mortgage payments, large online purchases, and cosmetic procedures.

Both Newman and the Simmons family hired independent inspectors. At the Simmons home, inspectors reportedly found numerous code violations, including unsafe framing. The front and back decks and an interior stairwell had to be torn out and rebuilt. Lane said an inspector told him, “This is like the worst job I’ve probably ever seen.”

Newman ultimately spent about $200,000—on top of the $200,000 she had already paid the Judges—to complete and repair her home, NBC-DFW reported. She later sold the property and moved in with her parents.

Another victim, Jeremy Congleton, told NBC-DFW that he filed for bankruptcy after the Judges abandoned his project. His family of four lived in an RV for 18 months while he finished construction himself. He estimated the financial damage at around $250,000.

While many victims believe most of their money is gone for good, those who spoke publicly said they were relieved the couple will no longer be able to take on new clients.

Lane Simmons said he hopes their experience serves as a warning to others, particularly about unusually low contractor bids. “If somebody’s cheap,” he said, “it’s probably for a reason.”