The McBee Dynasty is back—but its most notorious figure is nowhere to be found. As Season 2 of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys unfolds, patriarch Steve McBee Sr. is conspicuously absent, sidelined not by family drama, but by a massive insurance fraud case that could send him to prison for decades.
Steve McBee Sr.’s Legal Issues Explained on and off ‘The McBee Dynasty’
Season 2 of The McBee Dynasty recently began to reveal, starting in episode 3, that the FBI investigated Steve Sr. for insurance fraud. Although much of the case is still being kept under wraps for legal reasons, there is some information that has been made public. The Progressive Farmer reported that Steve Sr. fraudulently submitted documents to receive millions in insurance benefits to help keep the farm afloat. Steve Sr. allegedly misreported the types of crops the business had planted as well as the timeline to gather "insurance benefits that he was not entitled to." Steve Sr.'s falsification of documents led to the USDA losing a considerable amount of money. Ultimately, Steve Sr. did not deny the insurance fraud.
Steve Sr. awaits sentencing after being convicted of insurance fraud, which could mean up to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole. If given the maximum sentence, the 52-year-old rancher may not see freedom until he is in his 80s. The courts are working to fully discover how deep Steve Sr.'s crime goes to determine the appropriate punishment.
At the end of 2024, Steve Sr. pleaded guilty to insurance fraud, but his sentencing—originally set for June 26—has been delayed again. With the case still unresolved in court, his new sentencing date is now September 9, 2025. He’s already been ordered to pay millions to the USDA, but he’s still waiting to learn how much jail time he’ll serve. This extra time has allowed his lawyers to fight for a lesser sentence.
How Steve Sr.'s Conviction Is Affecting Season 2 of 'The McBee Dynasty'
Season 2 of The McBee Dynasty was shot last year, right when the FBI investigation was becoming public knowledge. As Galyna Saltkovska revealed in episode 3, she, Steven McBee Jr., and Kristi McBee have been keeping this information a secret from the rest of the family and the show as much as possible. With the farm already in massive debt, Steve Sr.'s crime could put the farm at more risk.
Steve Sr.'s crime is not the only thing that he is doing to harm his family. Steve Sr.'s tumultuous relationship with Galyna has ruined a big deal. Moreover, it is abundantly clear that Steve Sr.'s son, Steven, who has become the de facto head of the company, is not handling the stress well. Since Steve Sr. went on vacation with his new girlfriend, his ex-girlfriend Galyna went MIA. Galyna's absence sent Steven Jr. spiraling since she was in charge of scheduling a big delivery. Ultimately, even with Steve Sr. gone, his actions are seriously putting his company in jeopardy.
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo and is available to stream on Peacock.
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