He is a known 'associate' of criminals. [=he is known to associate with criminals; people know that he works with or spends time with criminals]
She was promoted from assistant editor to 'associate' editor and may soon be promoted to senior editor.
He was 'associated' [='connected, identified'] 'with' a group of radicals in the government.
(..) The boys over at lntel seem to think that the kidnapper's a guy... named Ted Burton. lt says Burton was a partner of Wilson's... and some other associates in some business venture that failed. Says he spent time in the Federal pen and lost his fortune. Guy's been MlA since his release and those (..)2004 White Chicks