Pair Face Federal Charges For 'Gus Gus Fun Bus' Death

ST. LOUIS, MO — Twenty-year-old Curtis Alford and 18-year-old Jana Stowers, who were charged in June with the death of Mike Arnold, the owner of "Gus Gus Fun Bus," a popular local party bus, have now also been charged in federal court, Fox 2 reports.

Prosecutors say the pair pepper sprayed the owners of a Ford F-150 pick-up truck in downtown St. Louis, stealing the truck and striking several pedestrians in the process.

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Arnold was one of the people hit. Prosecutors said he was trying to video the carjacking, which happened less than a block from Kiener Plaza. He had been there participating in "Taste of Downtown STL," a restaurant festival.

Alford and Curtis also came close to hitting two police officers, who attempted to stop them as they fled. The two crashed the truck a short time later and were arrested.

Alford, who drove the truck, was charged with multiple counts of assault, robbery, and armed criminal action at the state level. Stowers is facing counts for robbery and armed criminal action. Prosecutors say the federal charges are meant to send a message and deter violent crime going forward.

"We're going to put the full weight of our offices to address those issues and to hold individuals accountable for these serious acts," said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, according to Fox 2. Gardner worked with federal prosecutors on the case.

If convicted, both Alford and Stowers could face life in prison. As in every case, charges are merely accusations, not proof of guilt.

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