Christopher i Raquelle Judge have pleaded guilty to bilking dozens of clients out of nearly $5 million in a home-building scheme.
Federal prosecutors reported on December 31, 2025, press release that the Texas couple “conspired to defraud consumers by purporting to provide architectural, construction and custom interior design/decorating services that they never completed” between August 2020 and January 2023.
The content creators also falsely represented that Christopher was an architect, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“The documents in the plea reflect that the defendants defrauded more than 40 victims residing in six counties in the Northern District of Texas, involving at least 24 different construction projects,” the press release said. “The alleged amount of loss amounted to about $4.8 million.”
Thanks to HGTV, real estate agents, general contractors, and interior designers have become household names. “Home building (and) design 20 years ago was this deep, dark mystery,” network co-founder Kenneth Lowe told Architectural Digest in July 2019. “People didn’t understand that, and a lot of what HGTV has done is educate the (…)
Raquelle pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud that subjects her to a maximum of five years in federal prison.
As for Christopher, he pleaded guilty on December 30, 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Raquelle’s sentencing is scheduled for April 14, while Christopher will hear his punishment on May 12. Both are also expected to face monetary penalties, restitution and conditions of supervised release.
Some Texas homeowners talked about their experiences working with judges after pleading guilty in a Texas courtroom.
Chris and Raquelle Judge
Courtesy of Chris and Raquelle Judge / Instagram“Raquelle talked a lot. Chris was introduced as the architect and builder.” Kristin Newman he said WFAA in an interview published on January 2. “It started really well. I had no problems.”
As construction continued, however, Newman said he began to worry.
“We started questioning some things. ‘Hey, why isn’t this being done?'” he recalled. “Then it got to, ‘Hey, I think you’re overcharging for this.’ At one point, I overpaid for something. I said, ‘Hey, can I get this money back?’ Because you haven’t and that’s part of this other draw.’ And he said: ‘I don’t have any more'”.
At one point, Newman claimed that Chris “just stopped talking to us, he never came back.”
Lane Simmons and his wife also shared their experience in a separate interview with the local news station.
“They came out to our house … and they really introduced themselves like that chip i Joanna Gaines kind of atmosphere,” Simmons stated. “My house, everything they did is wrong. Within weeks, my tile cracks. My floors are cracking. My kitchen floor is sinking. The exterior cladding looks like it was done by a child. The whole framing, we had to start over and rebuild. My ladder had to be ripped out and rebuilt. It was only held by a piece of board inside. Just code violation after code violation.”
The judges’ last Instagram post is from May 2021, when they documented a trip to Panama City Beach, Florida. “What’s everyone’s favorite beach to visit?!” asked the via couple social networks at that time. “I need some sun! ☀️☀️☀️.”
Regarding their YouTube page, the judges once shared a video in September 2020 explaining the benefits of the new construction.
“You can move in knowing you don’t have to do any repairs,” Christopher shared while giving a tour of the home. “Thanks guys for following us today. Be sure to contact us when you’re ready to start your new build.”