Joel Infante, 20, of Mundelein.

Police officers conducting a traffic stop on an Uber arrested an alleged street gang member after they found him in possession of a loaded AK-47-style gun in Mundelein.

Joel Infante, 20, of Mundelein, was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, consumption of liquor by a minor and illegal possession of ammunition.

The Mundelein Police Department conducted a traffic stop on an Uber around 2 a.m. Sunday for the vehicle having suspended registration.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said Infante was in the backseat of the vehicle.

Officers recognized Infante because he is a known Latin King street gang member who was arrested earlier this year, Theis said.

A backpack was in between Infante’s feet. Infante denied it was his backpack and the Uber driver also denied it was his.

Theis said police felt a hard object in the backpack and recovered a Mini Draco 7.62 AK-47 style handgun.

[Suggested Article]  Alleged driver arrested, charged in fatal hit-and-run of Wauconda High School graduate near Island Lake

The gun was loaded with a 30-round extended magazine. Infante was arrested and admitted the gun was his, Theis said.

The Uber driver also told officers that Infante got into the car with the backpack.

Infante was on pre-trial release at the time after being charged with illegal possession of ammunition and disorderly conduct for an incident in Mundelein on August 11.

Theis said Infante also has a juvenile adjudication for illegally possessing a gun in 2022. He received probation, public service and counseling for his sentence.

“The least restrictive conditions have been tried and failed because this defendant does not comply with them,” Theis said, arguing for Infante to be detained in jail pending trial.

Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted a petition to detain Infante after agreeing with prosecutors that there were no conditions of release to ensure the community’s safety.

[Suggested Article]  Charges filed after suspect leads police on pursuit, crashes into squad car and flees, leaving 3 officers injured in Mundelein

Infante is set to appear in court again on January 10 for a preliminary hearing.