I'd rather hire a guy who had one old DUI (and learned from the mistake) than someone who tried to topple a flight school and had a $5000 bounty on his head! But what do I know?
My "crime" was to use this forum to make genuine, honest criticisms of Aviator, and how Mike Cohen, runs the operation. For this reason, the guy put a $5000 bounty on my head. This is kind of different to a DUI. Now, the "guy who had one old DUI (and learned from the mistake)," got himself arrested, charged and prosecuted by the cops and has a permanent stain on his record. Me? I have no stains on my record to worry about. Sure, you'd rather hire the guy with a DUI, but you're not exactly unbiased on that one and you're not doing the hiring anyway!
So you wish you worked for Gojets. Me too; we have something in common! I only have to worry about if I meet the minimum hiring times. You also have to worry about if they will accept you with your DUI. Maybe they will, maybe not, that's going to be the story of your career and that of any other DUI guy. It's similar to the old 4 year degree or no degree debate I guess.
You don't honestly believe the Xjet BS about being a Major do you? The real "Majors," are legacy carriers and airlines like ABX, UPS and others with great pay and awesome equipment. Not big regional airlines. No, I don't work for a major but one day will do. When your buddies are moving on to the real majors you'll understand that that you don't work for a major either. That's when it will bite, that for you, it's going to be even tougher to get in.
It can be done though. The story of Lyle Prouse is an extreme example (more like an FUI) but google the name and read the story:-
CNN.com - Lyle Prouse: Pilots and drinking - July 3, 2002
Congratulations Maverick on the job, but why did you wait so long and the go to Xjet. Why not wait for Sky West? A guy like you could have made it in, no problem.