Chug It Promoter Andrew ‘French’ Wright Convicted in $222M INSports Fraud

Andrew Wright, better known as Andrew French, the entertainment promoter behind popular events such as Chug It and French Connection, has been convicted in the $222 million fraud case at the state-run Institute of Sports (INSports). Wright, who once served as the agency’s financial controller, was found guilty on 13 counts linked to the multi-million-dollar scheme.

The Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court handed down the verdict, which also saw Wright’s co-accused, Rudolph Barnes and Oniel Hope, convicted on 11 and 8 counts respectively. The three were implicated in the misappropriation of funds earmarked for the development of sports programs across Jamaica.

Investigators detailed how the fraud operated over an extended period, draining resources from an institution intended to foster youth and community development through sports. Wright’s conviction has drawn heightened attention, given his prominence in the entertainment industry as the face of large-scale party brands that attract thousands of patrons both locally and overseas.

The case has reignited public debate around corruption in government entities and the challenges grassroots initiatives face when vital resources are siphoned away. Many have also noted the irony that a man celebrated for orchestrating major cultural events has now been brought down by his role in a high-profile financial scandal.

Wright, Barnes, and Hope will be sentenced in the coming weeks, with all facing the possibility of lengthy prison terms. For INSports, the conviction marks a pivotal step toward restoring credibility, though it also leaves lingering questions about oversight failures that allowed the fraud to flourish.

As Jamaica digests the outcome, the downfall of Andrew French serves as a cautionary tale at the intersection of culture, governance, and accountability.