A big mouth is weakness …But you probably have to break one of his knee caps…You got your sepf in big shit…But there is an easy way out. He was offering illegal betting service, take him to court the judge will always rule in your favor .

Yea I wish I could send someone to break his legs. But even that wouldn't get me $3500, which is all I really want.
I'm looking into contacting Debt Collection attorneys, but I'm pretty sure I don't have much legal recourse in this situation since he and I were technically involved in "illegal activity" of sorts.

It's like trying to sue someone for stealing your drugs...

You’d be narcing on yourself if you went to attys…only way you will get the money is to be tenacious…& possibly creative :)

*check your DM bro

I agree Barney.

Just at wits end here, don't know what to do. Constantly hounding the guy has obviously not worked.

Don't know any creative avenues that wouldn't turn into a harassment war with significant blowback damage on me.

If you know any DC/VA area thugs who wanna help me get creative let me know. This guy is a 60 year old drunk who likes to run his mouth. He could be easily jumped and mugged.... but he doesn't carry around 3500 in cash.

Industry standard here? Meaning he’s collected more from you than you from him over the years?

Nothing worse than a POS bookie who doesn’t pay but has no problem collecting…the last month of December was rough on a lot of us with all the favs/public plays coming in…but as you know you’ve got to ride out the streaks no matter how bad…

But ya man, agreed, don’t hurt the guy…but don’t give up and get creative to appeal to him…go to his bar, his work, talk to his family/friends…be tenacious as all hell so he knows you won’t give up…ruin his liver in making him drink more bc he can’t take the stress…karma is a bitch

All I can do is keep emailing him.
He doesn't work, I'm not gonna try to confront him in person. His wife's family is wealthy... he's got the money. But I'm not looking to find/contact his wife cuz I don't want him contacting my wife. This guy is kinda psycho, he wouldn't try to hurt me, but I could definitely see him being good at the online harassment game so I do not want to play that.
Frustrating, tough spot.

To be honest, I've likely collected more from him than I've ever had to pay... and that before the 3500 he owes now.
But he's not even a real bookie. I'm his only real client. He night have 1 or 2 others that occasionally bet with him. And those probably fell off a while ago.

You think the wrong way . He offers you to gamble which is not allowed and a judge has no other option for him to return you the money. The fact you know is illegal is in relevant in this case . It’s like sports books over seas offering sports in countries where it’s not allowed they get and a fine and have to return the lost money….So you must not think as a debt you collect but as money that he was not allowed to accept for bets…if these are winnings and not your own money you have not lost private funds and in this case you have nothing and just forget it …

Wouldn't be going on a public forum.

True story....about 35 years ago this guy was playing with a bookie out of LA....After the Super Bowl the guy won a 28k......when waiting for the delivery.....called him and said what happened........bok Sid I am tired of seeing your name on the payouts....**** off ,am not paying you......well the guy was annoyed and he was a very well liked local area who sold blow...etc. always prided himself of delivering a clean product that was never stepped.......so his connection where he received his product was a very good friend of the distributors family as he had grown up with his younger brother...anyways...he tells the distributor of the current situation..etc etc....well the guy distributor was also involved in a well known bike club chapter out of Vallejo......he was offered 10k to get the money....he said I dont want your 10 but will take 5k and free plane ride.....no worries lets go was the reply.....Fast forward ...land in LA and the distributor, we will call Larry.....said let's stop at this bar as I have some business there before we go to the books house.......They arrive at the property , Larry knocks on the door....then again....thee bookie answers and says what do u want kinda nastily as they have never met........Larry sez he is looking for "Steve"........Larry says I think you are lying to which Steve says **** off and u need to leave......then Steve tries to close the door which Larry took offense to and pushed the door wide open while entering the house....grabs Steve and says again are u Steve ? and if u lie to me it is going to get worse.....and tells Steve why he is here .....Steve yells some derogatory comments at Larry as he was not the most handsome guy....then Steves girl comes running up ...yelling at Steve about what the **** is going on......Larry the says now u pissed me cause u lied to me wasting my time.......So he tells the girl to get out of here now.....grabs Steve shoots his knee 3 times and Steves GF did not listen well and gets knocked out....now Steve is crying and bleeding all over the place....Larry drags him all around the house till they stop at a safe .....Steve pays him the money and another 5k cause as Larry said you lied to me and you got blood on my clothes.......Evidently Larry picked up the gun at the bar.....gave the 5k to guy who hired him since he already had paid him and says her never wanted his money in the first place....they take next plane out after stopping at the bar