A sweeping renovation scam unraveled in Texas after a Fort Worth couple pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to a multimillion-dollar home renovation fraud that left dozens of families financially devastated. Prosecutors say the pair used social media and polished branding to pose as trustworthy custom home experts while siphoning nearly $5 million from unsuspecting homeowners.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Christopher and Raquelle Judge admitted to running the scheme through their company, Judge DFW LLC, from August 2020 through January 2023. The couple marketed themselves as a full-service design and construction firm, falsely claiming Christopher Judge was a licensed and experienced architect.
“They came out to our house… and really pitched themselves as like this Chip and Joanna Gaines type of vibe,” victim Lane Simmons told WFAA.
Federal prosecutors said the Judges offered below-market bids to secure contracts, then began projects that were never completed. In Runaway Bay alone, Christopher Judge accumulated 424 code enforcement violations, drawing the attention of federal investigators and ultimately the FBI.
“There were families whose kids did not get Christmas for a year or two,” Kalie Simmons told FOX 4. “There were families that filed bankruptcy.”
Court documents state the renovation scam impacted more than 40 victims across six Texas counties and involved at least 24 construction projects. Prosecutors said the couple commingled client funds, using new payments to cover unrelated projects while spending the money on personal expenses, including mortgage payments and plastic surgery.
“You just need to be careful about who you give the money to,” former U.S. Attorney Roper said. “If it’s too good to be true, it’s probably not true.”
