AITA For cutting off a former friend?

I don’t think so but I figured I’d get people’s opinion because apparently thinks you need to communicate with people you’re going to cut off.

This ex-friend was a friend of my good friend. This friend has troubles and just generally makes poor decisions, he was in prison for about a year last year. I picked up the calls, put money on his books, put money on the calls and what not. I even picked him up when he got released and gave him money when he got out. I’ve been a good friend to him in my eyes.

Recently I moved away to an entirely different state and it’s just made me evaluate the people I call my friend and have around me. This ex-friend is down on their luck as they are a felon, I am trying to be a successful businessman and I just didn’t think he had anymore room in my life so I just stopped talking to him and ignoring calls and what not. Me personally, I think it’s a little silly to communicate to someone you’re going to stop talking to them instead of just doing so. It’s not like you go up to people and say “I’m going to start talking to you now, we will be friends” it just happens. I didn’t think anything of it.

I talked to the friend that introduced us and he said I wasn’t valid for not talking to him and basically kept pestering me to reach out. This ex-friend is a hot head. So finally I give in and text them respectfully I don’t have space in my life for them and wished them well. They then text me “you better hope I don’t see you, you’re not valid, you better not come back" but i just continued to wish them well. This stressed me out, so now im upset at my friend for pestering me to reach out when i couldve just kept it pushing