Steve McBee Sr. Prison Sentence & The McBee Dynasty's Future

Big news out of the McBee family camp: patriarch Steve Mcbee Sr. has officially been sentenced to federal prison for a multi-million dollar crop insurance fraud scheme. This development comes right after the renewal of The Mcbee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys for a third season, leaving many fans wondering what's next for the farm, the family, and the show.

TL;DR

Steve McBee Sr. received a 24-month (two-year) federal prison sentence for multi-million dollar crop insurance fraud.
He was also ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will serve two years of supervised release.
The McBee family, including sons Steven Jr., Jesse, and Cole, are rallying together and committed to keeping their sprawling business empire afloat as The McBee Dynasty continues with a confirmed Season 3.

The Hammer Falls: Steve McBee Sr.'s Sentencing Details

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It's been a long road for 52-year-old Steve McBee Sr., and on October 16, 2025, that road led him to a federal courtroom in Kansas City, Missouri. U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough handed down a sentence of 24 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. McBee was also ordered to pay a hefty $4,022,124 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency, along with a $100 special assessment fee.

This sentencing follows McBee's guilty plea in November 2024 to one count of federal crop insurance fraud. While prosecutors had initially recommended a longer sentence of 41 months, the judge opted for a lesser term. Steve McBee Sr. is expected to self-surrender to federal authorities on December 1, 2025, before 2:00 PM, with the court recommending he serve his time at the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota.

Unpacking the Crop Insurance Fraud Scheme

So, what exactly did Steve McBee Sr. do? The fraudulent activity spanned from 2018 to 2020 and involved several deceptive practices:

Underreporting Harvests (2018): McBee admitted to submitting false documents to his insurance provider, Rain and Hail, which underreported his total 2018 corn crop by approximately 674,812 bushels and his 2018 soybean crop by about 155,833 bushels. These false reports allowed him to receive over $2.6 million in federal crop insurance benefits and more than $552,000 in premium subsidies he wasn't entitled to.
Double Cropping Deception (2019): In 2019, McBee misrepresented that soybeans were the "first crop" in certain fields, even though wheat had already been harvested there. Federal crop insurance policies typically only cover the first crop planted, meaning his subsequent soybean claims were fraudulent.
False Planting Dates (2020): The following year, McBee provided false planting dates to NAU Country Insurance for corn crops. The corn had been planted after the official last planting date, making it ineligible for insurance. By misrepresenting this, he fraudulently obtained new insurance coverage.

These actions, as the Department of Justice stated, "caused an economic loss to the U.S. Department of Agriculture," totaling the $4,022,123 that McBee must now repay. In a separate development, he also agreed to a $3.2 million monetary judgment representing the profit he gained from the fraud. Adding to the financial woes, the McBee family farm reportedly defaulted on a $1.3 million loan with Rabo Agrifinance LLC earlier in August 2025, and faced a revelation in Season 2 of the show that the farm was around $70 million in debt. To help cover the restitution, McBee was ordered to forfeit three designer watches: a Tag Heuer Formula 1, a Tag Heuer Grand Carrera, and a Rolex Daytona.

The "Black Cloud" Hanging Over the McBee Family

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The legal battles and impending prison time have undoubtedly taken a toll on the McBee family. While Steve McBee Sr. took a step back from the spotlight in Season 2 of The McBee Dynasty to navigate his legal proceedings, his presence was still felt as the family grappled with the uncertainty.

His eldest son, Steven McBee Jr., spoke out about the emotional toll in an exclusive interview with The Daily Dish back in August, weeks before the sentencing. He admitted to feeling "scared, nervous, anything, and everything" ahead of his father's hearing. "We love him so much, and love our family unit," Steven Jr. shared. "So, to picture him not being here with us for any amount of time, it’s scary."

"We love him so much, and love our family unit. So, to picture him not being here with us for any amount of time, it’s scary."

— Steven McBee Jr. to The Daily Dish

Steven Jr. also acknowledged the constant stress, saying, "I’d be lying if I said that black cloud hasn’t been hanging over us every second of every day since we first found out." His brothers echoed similar sentiments during the Season 2 finale, "Wedding Bells and Jail Cells." Jesse McBee, 51 years old at the time, confessed to producers, "I’m definitely a little scared at the thought of my dad going to jail." Cole McBee added, "It’s upsetting to watch someone work your whole life every single day and have one mistake change everything. I’m honestly afraid."

Even Steve McBee Sr.'s ex-wife, Kristi McBee, who became a regular in Season 2 in his absence, offered her support, noting, "You know, we don’t know what all is going to happen with Steve, but there’s a lot of love between us all."

Leading up to and following the sentencing, the family shared messages of solidarity on social media. Steve McBee Sr. himself posted reflective messages, including screenshots of supportive texts, a rainbow photo with Creed lyrics about mistakes, and a joint post with McBee Farm & Cattle Co. featuring "The Man In the Arena" quote by Theodore Roosevelt. His sons Steven Jr. and Cole posted family photos with messages like "Love ya Dad. Whole family is here for you" and "We will get through anything together. We got you dad." Jesse posted a photo of his dad working with the Latin phrase "Invictus maneo" ("I remain unvanquished").

The Farm's Future and The McBee Dynasty's Next Chapter

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Despite the "black cloud," the McBee family is determined to press on. Steven McBee Jr. has stepped up as acting CEO of McBee Farm & Cattle Company, taking the reins not only on the farm but also in their other business ventures, like McBee's Coffee N Carwash locations across Missouri. He's been "leading the charge," securing a six-figure deal with Kansas City staple Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque to supply brisket.

Cole McBee has taken on a larger role on the farm side and as "head of construction," helping out during busy seasons. Jesse McBee is also deeply involved, with all three brothers "still learning day by day kind of how it’s all going to play out and our different roles." Their commitment is clear: to preserve their legacy and ensure the farm thrives for future generations, including Cole and Kacie Adkison's daughter, Blair Collins McBee, and Jesse and Alli McBee's daughter, Summer Leigh McBee.

Steven McBee Jr. expressed confidence in the company's path forward: "Doesn’t change a thing about the work we do daily or the trajectory we’re on and have been on over the last calendar year. SO much good is happening and WILL continue to. I’ve never felt more confident."

"The McBee Dynasty" Gets a Season 3 Renewal

In a surprising twist, just one day before Steve McBee Sr.'s sentencing on October 15, 2025, Bravo announced that The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys was renewed for a third season! The show, which premiered on Peacock and USA Network in March 2024 before moving to Bravo for its second season this summer, will continue to chronicle the family's dramatic lives.

Filming for Season 3 reportedly resumed even before the sentencing, which suggests that the legal outcome and its direct aftermath will likely be a central theme. While Steve McBee Sr. had a very limited role in Season 2 due to his legal issues, it remains to be seen how his prison sentence will affect his appearances (or lack thereof) in Season 3. Fans will undoubtedly be watching to see how the family navigates this new chapter, with the sons firmly at the helm of their sprawling agricultural empire.

Frequently Asked Questions About The McBee Dynasty

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Where can I watch The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys? You can stream The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys on Peacock. Past seasons have also aired on USA Network and Bravo. How many seasons of The McBee Dynasty are there? As of October 2025, there are two seasons available, and the show has officially been renewed for a third season. What was Steve McBee Sr. sentenced for? Steve McBee Sr. was sentenced for one count of federal crop insurance fraud, involving underreporting crop yields, double-cropping deception, and providing false planting dates to insurance companies between 2018 and 2020. When does Steve McBee Sr. go to prison? Steve McBee Sr. is ordered to self-surrender to federal authorities on December 1, 2025.