I also have a good friend who is an "ex-con"... I too would trust my life to him. He was young, stupid, and owned up to it.
From what my friend has told me, it is the guy you give a ride home to who has the potential to get in trouble, not you. Depending on his crime and conditions of his release, he may not be allowed around firearms. My friend cannot own and once a while back, when he learned I was getting some, he said he's not allowed around them unless they are locked up.
So what can you take from the rambling... find out what he did and call a lawyer.
IANAL, but if it is carried on the person I believe that counts as being "secured." Who's the famous dude who's a convicted felon, but lives in the same house with his wife and her multitude of firearms?