Steve McBee Sr.'s Legal Case Explained
Learn more about Steve McBee Sr.'s legal issues and how it's impacted the lives of the cast members of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys.
Key Takeaways
- Steven McBee Sr. pled guilty to federal crop insurance fraud, received a two‑year prison sentence, and was ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution.
- He is serving his sentence at FPC Yankton while his sons, led by Steven McBee Jr., manage and strengthen the family’s farm and business operations.
- Steven Sr. is not part of Season 3 of The McBee Dynasty, which now focuses on how the family adapts during his absence.
Steven McBee Sr. was convicted of federal crop insurance fraud on Nov. 5, 2024, and is now serving out his two-year sentence in prison. The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys patriarch left for prison in late 2025, where he is currently, leaving his sons and family members to tend to their Gallatin, Missouri farm and business.
How to Watch
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
Learn more about Steve McBee Sr.'s conviction and where he is today.
What was Steven McBee Sr. charged with?
Steve McBee Sr. was charged with one count of federal crop insurance fraud in November 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Missouri. This charge came after he reportedly submitted fraudulent documents underreporting his corn and soybean crop totals, which resulted in him receiving more than a combined $3 million in federal crop insurance subsidies and federal crop insurance premium subsidies.
Did Steven McBee Sr. plead guilty?
Yes, Steven McBee Sr. pleaded guilty to one count of federal crop insurance fraud in November 2024. By pleading guilty in federal court, Steven "admitted that he engaged in fraudulent activity from 2018 to 2020 that caused an economic loss to the U.S. Department of Agriculture," according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Missouri.
What was Steve McBee Sr.'s sentence?
Steve McBee Sr. was sentenced to 24 months in prison and another two years on supervised release once he gets out. He was also ordered by the judge to pay $4,022,124 in restitution.
Where is Steve McBee Sr. now?
Steve McBee Sr. is currently serving out his two-year prison sentence at FPC Yankton in Yankton, South Dakota.
Steven McBee Sr. shares a message before reporting to prison
In his final days before reporting to prison, Steve took to Instagram, where he shared a message thanking people for their support and encouraging them to visit the family's website and order meat there. "I just want to tell everybody thank you so much for all the thoughts and prayers," he said. "The support has been overwhelming; I appreciate it so, so much. I stayed up 'til three a.m. last night trying to reply to everybody because I want to give that respect, that they took the time to reach out to me. If I didn't get back with you, my sincerest apologies."
RELATED: Kacie Adkison Shares an Update on Steven McBee Sr.'s Life in Prison
Are Steven McBee Sr.'s sons running the farm?
Steve's oldest son, Steven McBee Jr., has taken over as the CEO of the McBee Farm & Cattle Company while Steve Sr. is serving out his prison sentence. Steve and ex-wife Kristi McBee's three younger sons, Jesse McBee, Cole McBee, and Brayden McBee, are also helping Steven run the farm in their father's absence.
Steven McBee Jr. shares updates on the McBee family farm
Steven took to his family's podcast, More Than McBees in December 2025, where he explained that he was optimistic about running the farm while Steve Sr. was away. "By the time my dad gets out, our businesses are going to be in the best shape they've ever been in," he said during the episode. "I think we were too dependent on him for the major, major problem-solving skills. This has given us the opportunity to step up, lead by committee, and for each of us to find our own strengths within the community."
Is Steve McBee Sr. currently a cast member on The McBee Dynasty?
No, Steve McBee Sr. is not a cast member on The McBee Dynasty Season 3 or on Season 2. He was a cast member on The McBee Dynasty Season 1, which is currently streaming on Peacock. Viewers will see how the McBee brothers and their family members rally around each other and their cattle farm during this time in The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys Season 3, which premieres on Bravo on June 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and streams the next day on Peacock.
RELATED: When Does McBee Dynasty Premiere? How to Watch the Dramatic New Season 3
Learn everything that happened on The McBee Dynasty Seasons 1 and 2.
