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2 days ago
The McBee Dynasty star Steven “Steve” McBee has pleaded guilty to a multimillion-dollar fraud scam using federal crop insurance.
According to a November 5 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Missouri, McBee, 52, was charged with one count of federal crop insurance fraud. The McBee Farming Operations owner allegedly received insurance benefits he was not authorized to get. McBee waived his right to a grand jury.
The government claimed that McBee made a false report to insurance provider Rain and Hill in 2018. According to the DOJ, McBee under-reported his “corn crop by approximately 674,812 bushels” and “his total 2018 soybean crop by approximately 155,833 bushels.” After providing the false total, he received more than $2.6 million in federal crop insurance benefits plus an additional $552K in federal crop insurance premium subsidies.
McBee admitted that his farm sold “more than 1.2 million bushels of corn and nearly 416,000 bushels of soybeans” to another party that same year. McBee’s crop insurance records stated that his operation “produced only 340,476 bushels of corn and 190,171 bushels of soybeans.”
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The DOJ claimed that McBee committed additional fraud in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, McBee obtained insurance for his soybean crop after “misrepresenting” that the vegetables were “the first crop in certain fields,” but he was allegedly already using the space to grow wheat as well. By choosing to double crop, McBee was “not entitled” to the claim.
The following year, McBee got crop insurance through NAU Country Insurance. The reality star allegedly planted corn after the last planting date in 2020. He subsequently gave the provider “false plant dates” to fraudulently obtain a new policy.
As part of the plea arrangement, McBee was ordered to pay restitution, which will be determined by the court. The government claimed they lost more than $4 million. It’s estimated McBee must forfeit a little over $3.1 million to the government.
McBee is currently facing up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. His sentencing will take place after the United States Probation Office completes its investigation.
McBee rose to fame on the series The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, which premiered on Peacock in March. The show follows McBee’s day-to-day life as he operates the McBee Farm and Cattle in Gallatin, Missouri, alongside his family, which includes sons Steven Jr., Jesse and Cole. The McBee Dynasty was renewed for season 2 earlier this year.
