Serial bad debtor Maurice Hawkins has been called out yet again for not repaying what he owes, the man behind a backing agreement turned sour stating, “I think the poker community should kick Maurice out as he is a jerk to everyone and has lied and screwed so many people over.”
Randy Garcia is outing Hawkins for the second time, having publicly lambasted the record-breaking WSOP Circuit ring winner three years ago.
That resulted in Garcia winning a $115,000 court judgment against Hawkins, but now Garcia says that Hawkins has paid barely $10k of that judgment, despite cashes worth 7-figures in the intervening period.
Garcia told PokerNews this week: “He has probably paid me back around $10k … over four years … all while cashing for well over a million.”
The clearly exasperated backer claimed that several payment plans have been agreed and then broken by Hawkins, who he says pays the first instalment or two, and then reneges on the deal.
Garcia added: “Maurice has screwed over so many people… Who cares if he has 14 rings if he is broke. I think the poker community should kick Maurice out as he is a jerk to everyone and has lied and screwed so many people over.”
Hawkins’ 14 WSOP Circuit rings stand as a record for the time being, and his $4,445,166 lifetime tournament winnings are testament to his skill at the game. However, this is far from the first time he has been accused of welching on debts.
A year prior to Garcia outing him for the $115k that went to court, a South Florida lawyer who had staked Hawkins also filed a legal suit against him.
Hal Lewis posted an open letter on the 2+2 poker forum that began: “I am a partner in a Law Firm …and a poker aficionado. I wanted to let the poker community know how much of a scumbag Maurice Hawkins is.”
Lewis goes on to explain that he entered a 50/50 staking deal with Hawkins, but had to file suit in an attempt to get the $22,788 Hawkins owed.
“I was shocked and angry and disgusted”
“I was shocked and angry and disgusted,” Lewis said after Hawkins refused to pay up. He added: “I have text messages where he claimed he owes me but gambled blackjack and lost.”
Describing Hawkins as “a piece of **** and just an awful, awful human being,” Lewis says he wanted to “let everyone know what he did and to never loan this guy a dime.”
That warning didn’t come in time for Garcia, however, who now plans to enforce the court action against Hawkins.
In a March 2022 email to Hawkins, Garcia wrote: “I will proceed to have my judgment against you enforced and will be sure to let the poker community know. I’ve had it. … You have disrespected me for the last time. See you in court!!!”
Garcia told PokerNews: “I have backed other players with zero issues because they have integrity and high character. Maurice has neither. So, he can continue to hit the circuit and act like he is the best there is and degrade people. Things will catch up to him sooner or later, if the court doesn’t get him first.”
That may not have the hoped-for effect, however, as this tweet exchange between Garcia and Allen Kessler shows…
Yes but unfortunately when the guy is broke and in foreclosure there isn’t much the courts can do
— Randy Garcia (@RandyGa51306496) May 8, 2022
For his part, Hawkins is reported to have replied: “I will pay him when I can,” in response to this week’s latest outing of him as a bad debtor.
For a look at who owes who and doesn’t like paying up, check out this article on alleged welchers in the poker community.
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