I appreciate everyone's replies and support. Terry, thank you for piloting this thread through occasional rough waters!
Fletcher, I am not aware of any problems or ripoffs that go back more than 5 or 6 years. I can believe that the earlier part of his career was different and that these problems started later on, for whatever reason. I would not use the term "con man" to describe him. Maybe no one will ever know the "whys" but to me, it doesn't matter much. In my daily interactions I too felt there was a good side, and I'm sure has done good things in the past. But to put that in perspective, I think nearly everyone, even the worst criminal, has a good side, just as the finest people on earth surely have a bad side, or at least a sliver of one. I have done things in my business and personal life that were wrong, that I regret. HOWEVER -- most people improve as they grow older -- as they socialize and mature, conscience and morality become more of a guiding force. If the opposite happens, that is a definite red flag.
For anyone who wants to read more, there are a lot of threads on Prodigy and Gearslutz. Names to search for are David Jay, Winston O'Boogie, John Hinson, Aardman, and Friends of John Hinson. Probably most or all of these names were used by Hinson himself, but I don't know for sure. Here are a few threads that came up in my searches:
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=40366.0http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=34260.0 http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gearslutz-secondhand-gear-cla ssifieds/437113-will-pay-25-if-someone-helps-me-get-ahold-da vid-john-hinson.html
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gearslutz-secondhand-gear-cla ssifieds/461963-david-john-hinson.html
Mr. Hinson did not have access to keys when he stole from my shop, and we have an alarm system. I believe that he placed the item in his shoulder bag when no one was looking, then simply closed the zipper -- done.
This event turned my little world upside down. At first it was impossible to comprehend, because I was trying to logically understand something that was not logical. But professionals have said that my experience is common, and unremarkable. Below are some general warning signs. Not all were present in my situation but I think these are important things to look out for,
in combination:
Person has been in the industry for years, but has little/no activity with previous clients, little/no cell phone/email activity, no apparent "network".
Person has no wife, girlfriend, or partner, and no circle of friends.
Person gets into mysterious fights and/or disputes with people.
Person seems dishonest about trivial matters, even when there is no apparent benefit.
Person is charming, charismatic, glib, seems skilled at controlling others.
Person does not seem to have genuine sympathy or empathy for others.
Person tells stories that portray him or her as a victim to elicit your pity, help, or money.
Person is bored easily and craves excitement.
Person shows occasional, random bad judgment in business or social situations, or loses temper unexpectedly.
Person seems to have shallow emotions.
Listen to your intuition. If the little voice in your head says that something is not right, that is
definitely a red flag.