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

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

Steve McBee, 52, who stars in "The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys," pleaded guilty to one county of federal crop insurance fraud on Tuesday.

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

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

The false reports led McBee to receive 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 one felony charge that he pled guilty to, McBee also said he committed additional fraud in 2019 and 2020.

McBee could face 30 years in federal prison without parole under federal statutes.

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

"I feel like this is probably the most realistic reality show out today on the market," he said ahead of the show's premiere on Peacock.

Whoever takes over the farm was set to oversee $50 million in debt while racing to secure a $100 million deal with a venture capital firm, according to KCTV.