Unfortunately you won’t see that money for years, if ever. The kid obviously has nothing, and if he goes to prison he won’t even be able to begin paying you back until he’s out. I’d probably do the same thing because he needs to be taught a lesson, but unless you’ve got a lawyer doing the work cheap for you it may not be worth it financially to go after him.
Glad you got the scumbag though. I really wonder what goes through people’s heads that makes them think they can actually get away with this stuff sometimes.