Reality TV star farmer pleads guilty to multimillion-dollar crop insurance fraud

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – A reality television star and farmer has pleaded guilty in federal court to a multimillion-dollar insurance fraud scheme.

Steve McBee, 52, who starred in the movie “The McBee Dynasty: The Real American Cowboys,” pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of federal crop insurance fraud.

McBee admitted to engaging in fraudulent activity that cost the U.S. Department of Agriculture more than $4 million in economic losses from 2018 to 2020.

McBee admitted to filing false reports with Rain and Hail, a company insured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, according to court documents. The fraudulent documents underreported the total 2018 corn crop by approximately 674,812 bushels and the total 2018 soybean crop by approximately 155,833 bushels.

False reporting led to McBee receiving more than $2.6 million in federal crop insurance benefits and more than $500,000 in federal crop insurance premium subsidies.

In addition to the single felony charge to which he pleaded guilty, McBee said he also committed other frauds in 2019 and 2020.

McBee could face up to 30 years in federal prison without parole under federal law.

In April, McBee told KCTV that his reality show was about his upcoming decision about which of his four sons he would hand over control of his business to.

“I think this is probably the most realistic reality show on the market today,” he said ahead of the show’s premiere on Peacock.

According to KCTV, whoever acquires the farm would be juggling $50 million in debt while competing to land a $100 million deal with a venture capital firm.

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