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Sterling Labels Innocent Man Incorrectly
It's been a tough year for Steven Williams. First, his
father passed away. So in February, while living in Arizona, he decided to
start looking for a job back home in Cincinnati to be near his mom. In April, he
thought he'd found a good one. After the interview and after his potential
employer gave him their benefits package, he had a feeling he was their top
candidate. Then his background check came back.
It claimed he had a felony for failure to comply with a
police officer, a misdemeanor for domestic violence, a felony for operating a
vehicle while intoxicated --- third offense, a felony for fleeing or eluding a
police officer. And it was all in a category that says "verified data."
No wonder then, the West Chester company's HR manager sent
him an urgent e-mail saying "…your background check has come back with some
concerns." Williams had some concerns, too. He says his criminal record is
clear.
"You pretty much look around and you're saying, ‘Wow, I'm a
convicted felon. But no one told me,'" Williams said.
How did this happen?
A FOX19 source says only Williams' name and birth date were
used because Social Security numbers are not listed in many jurisdictions'
court records. Apparently with a common name like Steven Williams it's easier
than you'd think to have someone else with the very same birth date who's lived
in similar places across the country. The company that performed the background
check on Williams is called Sterling
InfoSystems. FOX19 has learned that by directly contacting each clerk of
court, Sterling cleared-up its report on Williams.
But Williams lost that job in West Chester. He doesn't have
any hard feelings against the company. But he does feel frustrated that the
problem was thrown in his lap.
"The burden of proof is on you to clear-up your name," he
said.
Williams has found temporary work. But it's less money that
the West Chester job would've paid and he's getting no benefits. As of tonight,
he continues to try to land interviews for other jobs that would provide him
and his family with a safety net.
The HR manager at the company in West Chester did not
respond to an e-mail from FOX19 asking if he still uses Sterling as his
company's background check vendor. However, in a letter to Williams, the HR
manager said the bad background check was not a factor in the company's
decision to promote an internal candidate rather than hire Williams.
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