Explaining the FBI Investigation Involving McBee Dynasty Star Steve McBee

Steven “Steve” McBee Sr. gained notoriety during the inaugural season of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, but soon faced serious legal troubles that captured public attention.

Audiences were introduced to Steve and his four sons—Steven McBee Jr., Jesse McBee, Cole McBee, and Brayden McBee—in the first season of the reality series in 2024, giving viewers an inside look at their operation of McBee Farm & Cattle in Missouri. Unfortunately, after the cameras stopped rolling, tragedy struck when Steve pleaded guilty in November 2024 to his involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving federal crop insurance.

In the second season of the Bravo series, Steven took charge of the farm and gradually revealed to his brothers the alarming truth: their father was under FBI investigation.

Scroll down for all the latest updates on Steve’s legal challenges:

When Did Fans Last See Steve on ‘The McBee Dynasty’?

During the season 1 finale, aired in March 2024, CFO Galyna Saltkovska informed Steve that she was unable to secure an investment deal for their carwash business. Their romantic relationship also faced turmoil, leading Steve to drink excessively at their annual post-harvest celebration.

As the episode concluded, Steven told his brothers, “We’re on our own. Dad’s leaving. All he said is he has no idea when he’ll return. He mentioned he’s not in the right mental state to manage this farm.”

Steve was largely absent from the majority of the second season, which premiered in June 2025. He made his return in an August 2025 episode when he met his sons in Nashville and was present for the season finale, which featured son Jesse’s wedding.

When Was He Charged — And What Did He Allegedly Do?

In November 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that Steve faced one count of federal crop insurance fraud. According to reports, he was accused of submitting a fraudulent report to insurance company Rain and Hill in 2018, where he allegedly underreported his “corn crop by approximately 674,812 bushels” and “his total 2018 soybean crop by around 155,833 bushels,” as stated by the DOJ.

Allegedly, Steve received over $2.6 million in federal crop insurance benefits and an additional $552,000 in federal crop insurance premium subsidies following his false claims.

The DOJ also claimed Steve committed fraud in 2019 and 2020, misrepresenting his soybean crops while growing wheat in the same fields. When he purportedly decided to double crop, the DOJ contended he was “not entitled” to the insurance claim he submitted.

In 2020, Steve allegedly planted corn after the last planting date and provided NAU Country Insurance with “false planting dates” to fraudulently obtain a new insurance policy.

Did He Plead Guilty?

Steve admitted guilt in November 2024, acknowledging that his farm sold “over 1.2 million bushels of corn and nearly 416,000 bushels of soybeans” to another entity in 2018, as detailed in the press release.

He signed a plea agreement in which he consented to pay restitution, set to be determined by the court. The government reportedly lost over $4 million and is estimated to seek more than $3.1 million in restitution.

When Will He Be Sentenced?

Steve waived his right to a grand jury when he signed his plea deal in November 2024, facing a maximum of 30 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

His sentencing was initially scheduled for March 2025 but was postponed to June and then September. As of September 2025, Steve’s sentencing has been deferred again, now set for October 16, 2025.

How Did ‘The McBee Dynasty’ Explain His Season 2 Absence?

In the season 2 premiere in June 2025, which was filmed in late summer 2024, cast members discussed Steve, albeit without his presence in the episode. “He just up and skipped town,” employee Tessa remarked about her boss.

Later in the season, the brothers mentioned that Steve was traveling internationally with his new girlfriend, Masha.

How Did Steve’s Family Learn About the FBI Investigation?

Galyna inadvertently revealed in season 2, episode 3, that Steve was under FBI investigation. At that time, his eldest son, Steven, confirmed that only he, Galyna, and Steve’s ex-wife, Kristi McBee, were aware of the investigation. “My dad is under FBI investigation, and you’re the only one, along with my mom, who knows this is happening. So, it has to stay between us,” Steven confided to Galyna during the episode, which aired in July 2025.

Steven later told the cameras, “This FBI investigation is taking a toll on my dad. He’s keen to ensure that his issues do not impact any of us boys. My brothers are still in the dark about it.”

Steven’s former girlfriend, Calah Jackson, disclosed during season 2, episode 6, that he confided in her about Steve’s legal troubles.

Eventually, Steven’s younger brothers discovered the scandal while filming season 2. “It was a shock to see the burden Steven had been carrying,” Jesse shared with Us Weekly in July 2025. “Everything made more sense regarding his stress, and we were left wondering why he seemed overwhelmed when he was actually concealing this on his shoulders.”

What Have Steve’s Sons Said About His Trial and Fate?

Since Steve admitted guilt in the insurance scheme, the family has welcomed two new members. Cole and his girlfriend, Kacie Adkison, celebrated the arrival of their first child, daughter Blair, in December 2024. Jesse and his wife, Alli Ventresca, welcomed daughter Summer in April 2025.

Amid concerns for Steve’s future, Jesse and Steven confided to Us in July 2025 that they’re focusing on family moments. “We’re leaning into family, taking it day by day,” Steven explained. “The situation is still ongoing, and we hope to have closure before the year concludes. That’s the aim, so we can move forward and say, ‘Okay, we’ve figured this out; we can begin anew.’”

He added, “The challenging part is the uncertainty. We don’t know what lies ahead, so we’re preparing. We’re enjoying family dinners with my dad, including my mom visiting the farm three to four nights a week, cherishing time with the grandkids, and truly valuing family moments as we can’t predict what the future holds.”