Steve McBee Sr. Reveals His Plans to Ask for a Presidential Pardon and How the Chrisleys Are Giving Him Advice (Exclusive)

Steve McBee Sr. is hoping to get out of prison early.Ahead of self-surrendering to federal prison in Yankton, S.D., on Monday, Dec. 1, the McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys star, 52, told PEOPLE that he plans to ask President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon in his federal crop insurance fraud case.

“I’ve been meeting with pardon attorneys,” McBee says. “We’re putting everything together to fill out the application and turn everything in. It’s a long, drawn-out, extensive process. I’m very hopeful that the pardon could take place based on the details of the situation. I feel so privileged that I even have the avenue to do that. I’ll be so glad just to get the pardon application filed, and whatever happens happens.”

As he works on the pardon application, McBee says he has been receiving advice from fellow formerly-imprisoned reality star Todd Chrisley. Chrisley and his wife, Julie, who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud in 2022. Both were released from prison in May on full pardons.

“It was a blessing that [our McBee Dynasty producer] knew them and that we were able to connect,” McBee says. “So many people out there don’t have anybody to help them, and Todd really picked up that torch. Certainly, after being helped, you want to pay that forward. I mean, I’m not even out of my situation yet, but with that said, I’m like, ‘I will absolutely find that avenue to help other people when I’m done with my situation.’ ”

McBee is also exploring the First Step Act as a way to get out of prison earlier than the 24 months he was sentenced to in October after pleading guilty to one count of federal crop insurance fraud. With his release up in the air, he feels “so guilty” that his sentence is affecting his son Cole’s wedding planning with fiancée Kacie Adkinson.

“When I’m out, we’re going to have a big wedding,” he says. “The best case scenario is I would get a pardon or get home early, like in nine or 10 months. So, they tentatively want to get married next fall, but if dad’s not home, it’s going to have to flow to the spring. I feel so bad, but they’ll be okay and we’ll get through it.”

Now that his sentence has begun, McBee is ready to start putting the past behind him.

“Obviously, we hope for the best and pray for the best, but the storm is finally clearing,” he says. “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.”