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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-1-13 Euless Articles Fort Worth man admits role in nearly $5 million fraud scheme that left dozens of homes unfinished, DOJ says By Sergio Candido Updated on: December 31, 2025 / 7:39 PM CST / CBS Texas A Fort Worth business owner has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud conspiracy after authorities say he and his wife took nearly $5 million from dozens of North Texas homeowners for custom homebuilding and remodeling projects that were never completed, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, Christopher Judge admitted to conspiring to defraud customers through his company, Judge DFW LLC, between August 2020 and January 2023. Prosecutors said victims were left with unfinished construction projects, and in some cases, without comple ted residences, after paying large sums of money. The DOJ said court records show Judge and his wife, Raquelle Judge, both of Fort Worth, served as managing members of Judge DFW LLC, which claimed to offer custom architecture, construction and interior design services. The couple lied when they said that Christopher Judge was an architect and used below-market bids to entice customers into signing design-and-build contracts, according to authorities. Dozens of homeowners affected across North Texas Investigators said the Judges would begin construction, collect multiple installment payments, and then abandon projects before completion. More than 40 victims across six counties in the Northern District of Texas were affected, spanning at least 24 separate construction projects, according to plea documents. Prosecutors also said the couple deposited customer payments in the company's primary operating account, often using money from one victim to fund unrelated construction jobs. The total alleged loss is approximately $4.8 million, the DOJ said. Christopher Judge pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Raquelle Judge previously pleaded guilty on Dec. 17 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. Both defendants also face potential monetary penalties, authorities said. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Euless Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service Task Force. Victims share stories of North Texas couple accused of construction fraud The Brief Dozens of North Texas families say they were scammed by a couple posing as remodelers online. Prosecutors allege Chris and Raquelle Judge ran a multimillion-dollar fraud using social media. Victims report unfinished homes, lost life savings, bankruptcies, and years of financial fallout. EULESS, Texas - Victims of a multi-million home fraud scheme are coming forward with their stories. They say the couple came off as credible, with legit construction and remodeling videos posted across social media. It turned out to be a large-scale scam with dozens of victims. Euless property left unfinished For more than 30 years, Chelle Bish’s family has lived on their property in Euless. She told FOX 4 in an interview that they moved into the home in 1992, when her children were young. A few years back, Chelle and her husband changed things up. They decided to sell the home to their daughter and her husband, allowing the property to become a multi- generational place to raise their children. That change involved a $200,000 remodeling project — one that has yet to be completed after doing business with a recently arrested North Texas couple. The incomplete project mirrors stories of dozens of families, all of whom say they worked with Chris and Raquelle Judge. Prosecutors say the Judges used social media under the business name Judge DFW to carry out their scheme. They promised below-market prices, vowing to be completed in four to six months. They’re now facing federal prison time for their actions. Chris Judge describes himself as an architect. Federal investigators, however, say he’s not an architect, and while claiming to be one, he and his wife scammed more than 40 North Texas families of nearly $5 million related to incomplete custom -home building and remodeling projects. North Texas couple faces prison for $5 million fraud impacting 40 homeowners North Texas couple faces prison for $5 million fraud impacting 40 homeowners In 2022, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners warned Judge that he was violating the administrative code by referring to himself as an architect. Judge, however, was already well into his scheme, convincing dozens of families to pay him for home construction projects. Victims tell their stories What they're saying "There were families whose kids did not get Christmas for a year or two. There were families that filed bankruptcy," said Kalie Simmons, another victim of the Judges. Jeremy Congleton says he hired the Judge’s company to design and construct his family’s home in Decatur, but the Judges never finished it. His family lost around $250,000. "We did have to file bankruptcy. And you know, we’re dealing with that for another five years," said Congleton. His two daughters, excited to live in a new home, were instead forced to live with him and his wife in a camper for 18 months. Bedford apartment fire leads to partial roof to collapse By Tracy DeLatte Published January 8, 2026 3:01pm CST Bedford FOX 4 The Brief Emergency crews battled a fire on Thursday afternoon at a two -story apartment complex on Oak Creek Lane in Bedford. Part of the building's roof collapsed before firefighters from several agencies got the flames under control. Animal control officers were also called to the scene. BEDFORD, Texas - Firefighters in Bedford are battling a fire that caused an apartment roof to partially collapse. What we know: The fire is at a two-story complex on Oak Creek Lane just south of the Airport Freeway. Images from SKY 4 show that the firefighters have the flames mostly under control, but part of the building's roof has collapsed. The Bedford Fire Department said firefighters from Euless, Colleyville, and Hurst were helping to put out the flames. Animal control officers were also called to the scene, and there appeared to be at least one ambulance there. What we don't know: There’s no word yet on how many apartments are affected or if anyone was injured. No details about animal control's involvement were released. The cause of the fire is still unknown.