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Farmer, reality TV star, pleads guilty to multi-million dollar fraud scheme
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Farmer, reality TV star, pleads guilty to multi-million dollar fraud scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Gallatin, Missouri, farmer whose family farm is part of a reality television show pleaded guilty Tuesday in KCMO federal court to a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

Steve A. McBee, 52, is the owner of McBee Farming Operations and a main character on the Peacock/Bravo reality television series “The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys.”

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City, McBee pleaded guilty to one count of federal crop insurance fraud.

He will pay the compensation determined by the court.

The press release states that the total loss claimed by the government is $4,022,123.

McBee must also forfeit $3,158,923 to the government.

He faces a federal prison sentence of up to 30 years without parole.

According to the press release, McBee admitted that his agricultural company sold more than 1.2 million bushels of corn and nearly 416,000 bushels of soybeans to another party in 2018.

He submitted false crop insurance documents showing that his farm produced only 340,476 bushels of corn and 190,171 bushels of soybeans.

McBee also admitted at Tuesday’s hearing that he committed fraud in 2019 and 2020.

No sentencing date has been set.

If you have information about a crime, you can contact the local police station directly. However, if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). Submit the tip online or via the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers may offer you a cash reward.

Annual Kansas City area homicide details and data are available at the KSHB 41 News Homicide Trackerwhich was introduced in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mugshot Policy.

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