The viral story of crowdfunding for a Hurricane Milton survivor has raised questions about background checks. As devastating and deadly Hurricane Milton barreled toward Florida’s west coast, a true “Florida Man” surfaced in the news cycle and made a splash. In a turn of events that captivated social media, “Lieutenant Dan” now finds himself at the center of a controversy involving crowdfunding, a popular streamer, and questions about background checks. How did this unfold? Joseph Malinowski—nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan” because he has one leg, giving him an appearance reminiscent of the character from the movie Forrest Gump—gained widespread attention after surviving Hurricane Milton on his boat in Florida. The story began when Terrence Concannon, a 23-year-old University of Tampa student, shared TikTok videos of Malinowski’s hurricane survival. Concannon, who had befriended Malinowski before Milton hit, told the Daily Mail, “I would walk by him often and then one day, the motor on his boat went out and he was getting sucked under a bridge so he yelled out. He threw me the rope and I pulled him in.” As Milton approached, Concannon’s concern for Malinowski grew. “That’s when I started filming more and then it blew up,” he explained. A Flood of Support, Then Concerns The videos quickly went viral, leading to an outpouring of support for Malinowski. A GoFundMe page set up by Concannon for “Lieutenant Dan” raised over $40,000. The story caught the attention of popular streamer Adin Ross, who initially offered to buy Malinowski a new boat worth up to $100,000. However, as Malinowski’s internet fame soared, information about his criminal history began to surface. Public records revealed that Malinowski had over 70 contacts with police in Florida and North Carolina since 2012. His record included accusations of drug possession, assault, resisting police, burglary, and battery, among other charges. This revelation led to followers of the story, and even Malinowski himself, highlighting the importance of background checks in such situations. “He came to me—I never asked for it. Then he starts singing about my history. He should have done his due diligence,” Malinowski said in a TikTok video as the controversy around the story swelled. With the widespread availability of online background-checking services like TruthFinder® and Instant Checkmate®, Ross and Concannon could have potentially uncovered Malinowski’s history before the crowdfunding campaign and offers were made. For example, TruthFinder’s People Search tool allows users to access publicly available information, including criminal and traffic records. According to the company’s website, its reports may contain “infractions, misdemeanors, felonies, pending charges, acquitted charges, traffic offenses, and DUI’s.” Had such a service been used, it might have revealed Malinowski’s extensive record, including a recent six-month prison sentence for punching a police officer in the nose (he was released in 2022). Adding another layer to the story, Hillsborough County court records, which can also be discovered using TruthFinder, identify charges and infractions for selling, operating, or using a boat without a title and improper transfer of title.  Did Malinowski even own the boat he’s been using? According to public records, he’s currently scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24, 2024, to be arraigned on one of the charges. Ross is offering a Kick platform for Concannon, who will be given a daily budget to support charity-based livestreams. “I’m giving the deal to Terrence. Terrence is going to go around Tampa, IRL streaming, and help out homeless people and those in need,” said Ross. “We’re going to give him a budget every day to go IRL streaming, give out, and bless people.” Ross added, “We still want to help Lieutenant Dan, known as Joe, by giving him a boat, but we want to ensure he’s staying sober and doing it the right way.” ‘The Deal is Done’ Malinowski defended himself against criminal accusations, stating, “I went to prison; I did jail time, but I can tell you—I am innocent of all the charges! I’ve been charged with battery; I never even saw the cop. I went to prison for a year. But karma and god are real.” Concannon, who initiated the fundraising efforts, maintains that he was unaware of Malinowski’s past when he offered to help. “He never mentioned anything about it. I had no idea about [the past] and I am not one to judge. All I saw was a guy needing help and I was willing to give it.” This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in viral internet fame. Online fundraising driven by influencers may come from a well-placed desire to help. The story of Lieutenant Dan reminds us of why it remains important for these influencers and the fans who contribute to their fundraising efforts to use background-checking tools like TruthFinder to do their due diligence. The post ‘Lieutenant Dan’ Says Adin Ross Should Have Done ‘Due Diligence’ appeared first on LA Weekly.