McBee Dynasty's Steve McBee Sr. Sentenced to Prison as Season 3 Gets Greenlight

Talk about a whirlwind week for the McBee family! Just a day after their hit show, The Mcbee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, snagged a Season 3 renewal, patriarch Steve Mcbee Sr. was officially sentenced for a multi-million dollar crop insurance fraud scheme. It's a lot to unpack, but we've got all the essential details for you right here.

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop

Steve McBee Sr. was sentenced to two years in federal prison plus two years of supervised release for crop insurance fraud.
He's been ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution, with a self-surrender date of December 1, 2025.
Despite the legal drama, The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys has officially been renewed for a third season on Bravo, with filming already underway.

The Legal Showdown: Steve McBee Sr. Faces the Music

On October 16, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough handed down Steve McBee Sr.'s sentence in Kansas City, Missouri. The 52-year-old reality star, known for leading McBee Farming Operations, received a 24-month prison term. On top of that, he'll face another two years on supervised release once his time behind bars is complete. And as for the financial hit? Steve Sr. has been ordered to pay a hefty $4,022,124 in restitution, plus a $100 special assessment to the court.

This sentencing comes nearly a year after McBee pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of federal crop insurance fraud. The initial charges had him facing a potential 30 years in prison without parole, so while a two-year sentence is significant, it's a far cry from the maximum.

Unpacking the Details of the Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme

So, what exactly did Steve McBee Sr. do? According to a November 2024 press release from the Department of Justice, McBee admitted to engaging in fraudulent activity between 2018 and 2020. This caused a substantial economic loss to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a federal agency designed to support American agriculture.

One key part of the scheme involved making false reports to Rain and Hail, an insurance company reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. In 2018, McBee submitted fraudulent documents that severely underreported his farm's yields. Specifically, he claimed approximately 674,812 fewer bushels of corn and 155,833 fewer bushels of soybeans than he actually harvested. These false reports allowed him to pocket $2,605,943 in federal crop insurance benefits and an additional $552,980 in federal crop insurance premium subsidies – money he wasn't legally entitled to receive, totaling $3,158,923 in ill-gotten gains.

But the fraud didn't stop there. In 2019, McBee also admitted to providing false information to Rain and Hail to secure insurance for his soybean crop. He misrepresented that soybeans were the initial crop in certain fields, when in reality, wheat had already been harvested from those very same fields. Crop insurance policies generally only cover the first crop planted on a piece of land in a given year. By double-cropping and misreporting, McBee again received federal crop insurance benefits he shouldn't have.

The government's claimed total loss due to these fraudulent activities came in at $4,022,123 – just one dollar less than the restitution McBee was ordered to pay back.

What's Next for Steve McBee Sr. and the Family Ranch?

McBee Dynasty's Steve McBee Sr. Sentenced to Prison as Season 3 Gets Greenlight image 3

With the sentencing complete, Steve McBee Sr. has a clear date for his next steps: he must self-surrender before 2 p.m. on December 1, 2025. His attorneys have requested that he serve his time at a federal prison in Yankton, South Dakota.

The legal troubles have also revealed the precarious financial situation of McBee Farming Operations. It was disclosed during Season 2 of the show that the farm was allegedly burdened with about $70 million in debt. Furthermore, court documents from August 13, 2025, indicate that McBee and McBee Family Farms defaulted on a $1.3 million loan with Rabo Agrifinance LLC. Adding to the list, on August 29, 2025, authorities filed a notice for the forfeiture of property, requiring McBee to hand over three wristwatches.

The Family Rallies: Support Amidst the Storm

Throughout Steve Sr.'s legal battles, his family has publicly voiced their unwavering support. His sons, Steven Jr., Jesse, Cole, and Brayden, along with his ex-wife Kristi McBee, have all stood by him.

"Love ya dad. Whole family is here for you."

— Steven McBee Jr. (Instagram Story)

Cole McBee echoed this sentiment, sharing a family photo on Instagram with a powerful message:

"We will get through anything together. To the hardest working man I know, it’s our turn to be here for you. We got you dad."

— Cole McBee (Instagram Story)

Steve McBee Sr. himself posted on Instagram after his sentencing, expressing gratitude: "The number of (supportive) messages I have received touches my heart beyond measure that words could express." He added, "...The truth of the matter is, I’m the one who’s lucky...lucky to have been able to spend time with so many high character young people and they were the ones that made me a better human not the other way around. I count my blessings every day for my family and the support they give me and for my extended family that continues to grow each and every day. This too shall pass..."

Steven Jr. had previously told The Daily Dish about the heavy emotional toll: "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... We’re ready to get past that day, deal with whatever comes of it, and move on, to say the least. We know no matter what, if we stick together as a family, we’ll make it through anything."

The Show Goes On: The McBee Dynasty Renewed for Season 3

In a fascinating turn of events, Bravo announced on October 15, 2025 – just one day before Steve Sr.'s sentencing – that The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys was renewed for its third season! What's more, filming for Season 3 had already resumed ahead of the sentencing, confirming that the show will continue to document the family's journey through this challenging time.

The series, which moved from Peacock to Bravo for its second season, has been a surprising hit. Season 2, which ran from June 30 to September 1, averaged an impressive 1.3 million weekly viewers across all platforms. Its ratings saw significant jumps compared to Season 1, with an 82% increase on Peacock and a massive 213% boost on DVR. The latter half of Season 2 continued this upward trend, gaining 16% more viewers on Peacock and 8% on Bravo through seven-day viewership. Interestingly, about one-third of the Season 2 audience watched with another person, often fueled by female viewers watching with male viewers, making it a Top 4 Original Series of 2025 on both platforms.

During Season 2, Steve McBee Sr.'s presence was notably reduced, with him appearing only twice after taking center stage in Season 1. This was a strategic decision to "protect him and protect our family" given the ongoing FBI investigation, as Steven Jr. explained to People. The show's focus shifted to Steven Jr. and his brothers, Jesse and Cole, as they navigated personal dramas and the daunting task of saving the family farm.

Leading the Charge: The Sons Take Over McBee Farming Operations

With Steve Sr.'s legal issues looming, his eldest son, Steven McBee Jr., stepped up as acting CEO of McBee Farm & Cattle. He's been "leading the charge," including securing a six-figure deal to supply brisket to Arthur Bryant's Barbeque, a famous Kansas City staple. Jesse and Cole have also carved out their roles to keep the family business afloat.

Jesse shared with Us Weekly that they are "still learning day by day kind of how it’s all going to play out and our different roles," but they've "kind of settled into what we’re going to do." Cole has taken on a larger role on the farm side, heading construction and managing operations in the city while assisting during busy seasons at the farm.

Beyond farming and cattle, the McBee brothers also manage a chain of car washes across Missouri. The family is determined to preserve their legacy, not just for themselves but for the new generation, including Cole and Kacie Adkison's daughter, Blair Collins McBee, and Jesse and Alli McBee's daughter, Summer Leigh McBee.

Despite the challenges, the McBee family's resolve to stick together and push forward remains central to their story, both on and off screen. Viewers can expect to see how they navigate these profound changes when Season 3 eventually premieres.

Your Burning Questions About The McBee Dynasty's Future

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When does Steve McBee Sr. begin his prison sentence?

Steve McBee Sr. must self-surrender before 2 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025.

What was Steve McBee Sr.'s crime?

He pleaded guilty to federal crop insurance fraud, involving underreporting crop yields and misrepresenting planting information to receive federal benefits and subsidies he was not entitled to, specifically between 2018 and 2020.