The screening includes an Experian credit report, national criminal search, sex offender search and eviction search.  

For example, I mention that every adult must pay a $30 application fee, pass my credit/criminal background, make a combined income of 3x the rent, and whether or not the property accepts pets.

Contractors can be some of the least reliable people on the planet - no offense to the good one (singular) reading this.  

Think of it as a football game, you need to play offense and defense.

I still have to run a criminal background.

No offense but do not follow this advice.

@Timothy Grothuesmann  What your describing is Collusion.. and is highly illegal its a felony.people get busted all over the US doing this.. its not an advanced scheme its criminal acitivty.its called lunch money ,, Walk away money, wink and nod money   etc etc.FBI gets wind of being rampant in a market and they will send in schills...

With the problems they have, any landlord doing a criminal or credit background check on these low-lifes won't touch them.

When he went to draft up the contract he made it a Confessions of Judgement contravr in which I waive all my rights and if any of my "associates or friends" talked about him I'd have to pay half a million per offense, and he could easily claim a violation happened that never did to collect half a million dollars and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it.He consistently threatened me with legal action into trying to get me to accept that crazy contract.

.- As everyone said, get a lawyer ASAP for a civil and possibly criminal trial.