Federal prosecutors charged community activist and pardoned former death row inmate Aaron Patterson with drug and gun violations last week. Patterson was charged with possession of heroin, intent to distribute marijuana and illegal possession of firearms -- including a machine gun.
The arrest was part of a five-month undercover investigation.
The 40-year-old Patterson is one of four former inmates pardoned when former Governor George Ryan cleared death row in 2003.
Patterson, Mark Mannie and Isaiah Kitchen were arrested at separate unknown locations, according to U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Randall Samborn.