A couple from North Texas has been sentenced to nearly seven years in federal prison for defrauding victims through a scheme involving custom home projects. Christopher and Raquelle Judge pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and were met with significant penalties for their actions, which have affected numerous families across the region.
The 35-year-old Christopher Judge received a maximum sentence of six years and six months in prison, along with two years of supervised release. His wife, 36-year-old Raquelle Judge, was sentenced to one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The couple has also been ordered to pay $2.8 million in restitution to their victims.
The fraudulent activities of the Judges transpired from August 2020 to January 2023, during which they managed Judge DFW LLC, a company that falsely offered custom construction and design services. They enticed clients with below-market bids for custom home projects across six counties in North Texas. However, after collecting payments, the couple abandoned many projects or failed to deliver on their promises.
Prosecutors revealed that the Judges falsely advertised themselves as custom architecture providers, with Christopher Judge even misrepresenting himself as a licensed architect. The total losses incurred by their scheme are estimated at around $4.2 million, impacting over 40 victims and at least 24 construction projects.
During the sentencing, several victims were present, filling the courtroom to the extent that some had to sit alongside the Judges. Defense attorneys argued that the business initially began with good intentions but fell into disarray during the pandemic, leading Christopher Judge to make a series of unfortunate decisions.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould emphasized the seriousness of the Judges’ actions, stating, “Fraudsters who exploit hard-working families in the Northern District of Texas will face serious consequences. The Judges didn’t just abandon construction sites; their entire business model was built on lies and deceit.” He highlighted that such fraud undermines consumer trust, and the justice system will hold those accountable for these crimes.
Victims expressed the profound financial impacts of the scam on their lives. Kristin Newman, one of the affected individuals, remarked on the debilitating effects, stating, “What each family, individually, has gone through is financially debilitating.” Another victim, Chelle Bish, shared her frustration with Christopher Judge’s demeanor during the process, indicating that he failed to acknowledge the harm caused to the victims.
Neither Christopher nor Raquelle Judge spoke to the media following the sentencing. Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means allowed Raquelle to serve her sentence first, with Christopher to follow, citing concern for their four children as a factor in the decision.
