KC Reporter

A Gallatin, Missouri farmer, Steve A. McBee, has admitted to a multi-million dollar crop insurance fraud scheme in federal court. McBee, who is featured in the reality TV series “The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys” on Peacock, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of federal crop insurance fraud before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough.

McBee acknowledged fraudulent activities between 2018 and 2020 that resulted in financial losses for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the plea agreement, McBee is required to pay restitution as determined by the court, with the government claiming a total loss of $4,022,123. He must also forfeit $3,158,923 to the government.

The charges stem from false reports made by McBee to Rain and Hail, a company reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. In 2018, he underreported his corn crop by approximately 674,812 bushels and soybean crop by about 155,833 bushels through fraudulent documents submitted to Rain and Hail. Consequently, he received $2,605,943 in unauthorized federal crop insurance benefits and $552,980 in premium subsidies.

Further admissions include selling over 1.2 million bushels of corn and nearly 416,000 bushels of soybeans in 2018 while reporting only producing significantly less according to his insurance records.

Additional fraudulent acts occurred in subsequent years. In 2019, McBee misrepresented crops on certain fields insured through Rain and Hail after harvesting wheat earlier that year. This misrepresentation led to improper insurance payments due to double cropping.

In 2020, McBee provided incorrect planting dates for corn crops insured through NAU Country Insurance after planting past eligible dates. This led to further unauthorized insurance benefits.

McBee faces up to 30 years in federal prison without parole based on federal statutes; however, sentencing will be determined following an investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper is prosecuting this case which was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General.