Mo. child care operators indicted for conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The U.S. Attorney's Office says the four operators of a group of child care centers in southern Missouri have been indicted on federal conspiracy charges.

The defendants are accused of altering meal and daycare records and receiving nearly $123,000 in reimbursements from false child care claims.

First Steps Daycare owners Suzanne and Stephen R. Smith are charged along with their daughters, Stephanie Smith and Christina Ann Thomas.

The family is from Bruner, Mo., and operated 10 centers, including ones in Springfield, Nixa, Mt. Vernon, Monett, Aurora and Branson.