Steve McBee Sr., the patriarch of the reality television series The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, has agreed to pay the federal government more than $7.1 million following his guilty plea in a multimillion-dollar crop insurance fraud case, according to newly filed court documents.

The agreement sets out the financial obligations McBee must meet after his release from prison in September, adding a major financial consequence to a case that has already cost him months behind bars. The 54-year-old is responsible for a $3,158,923 forfeiture money judgment, along with another $4,022,124 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A settlement agreement filed Thursday, Oct. 22, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri outlines the payment terms. TMZ first reported the development.

Under the agreement, McBee must pay at least $300,000 toward the $3,158,923 settlement amount within 14 days. The remaining balance must be paid in full no later than 10 months after the settlement date.

The financial obligations do not end there. The agreement states that the government’s right to collect the separate $4,022,124 restitution amount remains in full force and effect.

Steve McBee $7.1M Insurance Fraud Case Brings New Financial Obligations

The latest filing follows McBee’s early release from prison and clarifies the substantial payments he must make under his plea agreement.

The $4,022,124 restitution figure had previously been reported by PEOPLE after his October 2025 sentencing. Authorities also announced that McBee had received $3,158,923 in unauthorized federal benefits connected to the case.

PEOPLE contacted a representative for McBee seeking further information about the settlement.

The agreement places a strict timetable on the forfeiture payment, requiring an initial six-figure payment followed by full repayment of the remaining balance within 10 months. Meanwhile, the government retains its rights concerning restitution, leaving McBee with separate financial responsibilities tied to the case.

Crop Insurance Fraud Led to Millions in Unauthorized Benefits

According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement, McBee was accused of falsifying reports submitted by owners of McBee Farming Operations to obtain federal crop insurance benefits and premium subsidies.

Authorities said the scheme resulted in $2,605,943 in federal crop insurance benefits and another $552,980 in federal crop insurance premium subsidies. Together, those payments totaled $3,158,923 in unauthorized benefits.

The case centered on federal agricultural insurance programs designed to help farmers manage financial risks associated with crop losses. The allegations and subsequent guilty plea placed McBee at the center of a case involving millions of dollars in federal funds.

His repayment obligations now extend beyond the benefits identified by authorities, with the settlement requiring forfeiture payments and preserving the government's separate restitution claim.

McBee Released After Serving Nine Months of His Sentence

The financial agreement arrives about a month after McBee reunited with his family following nine months in prison.

In October 2025, McBee was sentenced after pleading guilty to federal crop insurance fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough ordered him to serve 24 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.

McBee was released in September after serving approximately nine months of the original two-year prison term.

His release marked a significant turning point in the case, but the newly filed agreement shows that the consequences continue beyond incarceration. The repayment schedule now gives McBee specific deadlines for meeting a substantial portion of his financial obligations.

Reality TV Fame and Family Support During the Case

McBee has appeared alongside his sons on Bravo’s The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys since 2024. The show follows the family’s businesses and life in the American agricultural world, placing the patriarch’s legal troubles against the backdrop of their public profile.

After his September release, McBee shared an outdoor video on Instagram accompanied by John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” In the post, he reflected that he had gained “a little more appreciation for the simple things in life” and thanked the “Lord for all the blessings in my life.”

His sons also spoke publicly about the family’s response while he was incarcerated.

In June, Steven McBee Jr. told PEOPLE that the family was “focused on our businesses and what we have in front of us.” His brother Cole McBee said their father was “doing as good as he can be” and “staying positive” during his time in prison.

A Costly Chapter Continues After Prison

For McBee, leaving prison has not brought an end to the legal and financial fallout. The settlement requires him to begin paying hundreds of thousands of dollars within days of the agreement and settle the remaining forfeiture balance within the specified 10-month period.

The separate restitution obligation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture also remains enforceable under the agreement.

The case has therefore entered a new phase: McBee is back with his family after serving part of his sentence, but the financial consequences of the crop insurance fraud case remain substantial. The deadlines now laid out in court documents will determine whether he meets the obligations attached to his guilty plea.