As McBee Dynasty star Steve McBee Sr. prepares for his two-year prison sentence, he is getting advice from fellow reality star Todd Chrisley.
“I cannot say enough good things about Todd,” McBee, 52, told People on Wednesday, November 26. “After I did a podcast with Todd last Thursday, we went and had lunch. We walked in to the restaurant, and there was a beautiful young lady as a hostess, and she looked at Todd and just started crying.”
McBee was moved by the response to Chrisley’s advocacy. “She was like, ‘Mr. Chrisley, we love you. I just got out of prison October 9, and the changes that you have made for my sisters that are still in there of getting treated like a human — you’re changing everybody’s life,’” he recalled. “It was a powerful moment.”
McBee credited a McBee Dynasty producer who previously worked with Chrisley, 56, on Chrisley Knows Best, for putting them in touch. McBee, who pleaded guilty to one count of federal crop insurance fraud, was originally charged in November 2024 and signed a plea deal where he agreed to pay restitution. He waived his right to a grand jury and was facing up to 30 years in a federal prison without parole.
McBee also has two years of supervised release and has to pay $4,022,124 in restitution for his crimes. He must self-surrender before 2 p.m. on December 1.
“I feel like there’s so many things to get ready, so I’ve just been in this panic mode trying to make sure I thought of everything,” McBee shared about the plan to drive to Yankton on Sunday, November 30 and stay the night. “There’s going to be loose ends that fall through the cracks, but I would say the lion’s share of all major items have been covered. I mean, it’s definitely been an experience I never thought I would have.”
Steve McBee Paul Andrews/PEACOCK
McBee noted that Chrisley has given him “1,000 tips” of what to expect in prison. (Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud in 2022.)
“We’ve had hours of conversation,” McBee said. “He doesn’t owe me anything, and he’s texted me every other day, like, ‘Checking on you, buddy. How are you feeling today? It’s going to be OK. Everything’s going to be all right. We’re going to get through this. I’m going to help you any way I can.’”
McBee credited Todd for maintaining contact with his four sons: Steven Jr., Jesse, Cole and Brayden.
“Todd texts all of my boys telling them they’re going to be OK,” he continued. “I literally can’t tell you enough good things. I don’t care. People all have pasts, but I know who that man is today and for him to continuously take his time, it’s special. Steven has also talked to [Chrisley’s daughter] Savannah multiple times.”
While serving their prison sentences, Todd and Julie maintained their innocence and with daughter Savannah’s help ultimately were fully pardoned by President Donald Trump in May. McBee is hoping for a similar outcome.
“I’ve been meeting with pardon attorneys, and I had a long meeting Friday, and then Monday I spent four hours with them,” McBee explained. “We’re putting everything together to fill out the application and turn everything in.”
McBee is remaining “optimistic” as he prepares for the major life change.
“I’ve never been a victim, nor will I be a victim, and I’m not going to let anybody make me a victim,” he added. “I’ve always believed the glass is half full. Life isn’t fair sometimes for no reason at all. Good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people. I’m going to be okay, and I’m going to continue to work hard. I’m just going to make the best of a bad situation.”
Looking ahead, McBee is hoping to have an effect on others the same way Todd has, saying, “It was such an inspiration. My path forward when I’m done with all this may be really trying to lead this next generation to keep family farms [alive], and it really comes back to the consumer. There’s a lot of pathways that they could support local farms.”
He concluded: “Obviously, we hope for the best and pray for the best, but the storm is finally clearing. A captain doesn’t become a skilled captain on calm water, they learn how to navigate through storms. This was certainly a level five hurricane, but when the storm breaks, you smell the fresh, clean air. We’re starting to come out of that, so I’m feeling a lot better.”
