Linch, Don't fret. I spent 5 years in the FL state prison system, got out, moved to NY. From my due diligence, I've worked as a project manager for Merrill Lynch, IBM, and AT&T. ML, I skated around the background check, I was a contractor, they told me to report to the fingerprinting place and I said, OK be there in 1 hour, never showed up and it fell off the radar with them(Luck). AT&T never checked, and IBM only ran a check for 7 years. I currently work as a program manager for a networking company handling financial clients and they only looked back 7 years, for which I said NOPE nothing in the past 7 years. I NEVER told any of them, the best bet is the previous advice, get in, prove yourself and then if you feel froggy, leap and tell them about it. I have in the past, confided in my previouc managers about my past (after a lengthy period of time) and on the contrary, they were impressed with how far I've come, I also became very good friends with them and hang with them on a daily basis, actually burn the 420 with them. It's a touchy topic bro, to do or don't? I lean on the side of don't and if they find out deal with it, it's better to have the job for a temp period of time than not have one at all. Good luck my friend, and there is light out there, I am living proof of it. Peace Mark