Beenie Man’s Former Manager Patrick Roberts Maintains Innocence Amid Fraud Charges

Beenie Man’s former manager Patrick Roberts, through his attorney Queens Counsel Peter Champagnie, has maintained his innocence relating to recent fraud charges.

“This matter has now transitioned to court. Beyond repeating the sentiments of my client that he did absolutely nothing wrong and noting that he is resolute in this, I have no further comments to make at this time,” Champagnie told DancehallMag.

Roberts retained Queen’s counsel Peter Champagnie earlier this week after he was hit with a battery of charges including forgery, conspiracy to defraud, and obtaining money by false pretence.

Roberts was granted bail On Thursday through an application made by his attorney. Roberts, a People’s National Party Councillor for the Molynes Division in West Central St Andrew, was charged by the police’s fraud squad.

Roberts is well known as a manager of the successful Shocking Vibes crew with original cast members Beenie Man and his protégé Little Kirk. But things really kicked off for the fledgling company in 1989 when Little Lenny, a 17-year-old Kingston College student, made them a household name with his risqué hit song, Gun Inna Baggy.

Since then, Roberts has made an indelible impression on Jamaican culture through music and social intervention. He has been president of Arnett Gardens Football Club, and organised Ghetto Splash, an annual free concert that started in his native Craig Town.

Roberts extended his efforts to the Molynes Gardens community where he was elected councillor and later became candidate for the People’s National Party (PNP) for St Andrew West Central, where he lost to current Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the general elections of 2011, 2016 and 2020.

Roberts is known for producing Beenie Man’s Billboard-charting World Dance, and is ranked among Jamaica’s most successful music producers.

At their peak in the 1990s, Shocking Vibes recorded top Jamaican artistes including ‘Crew’ members Tanto Metro and Devonte, Snagga Puss and General B. Dennis Brown, Buju Banton, Lt Stichie, Tiger, Mad Cobra, Capleton, Buccaneer, Sanchez, Wayne Wonder, Richie Stephens, Jack Radics, Lady Saw and Ghost, also did songs for the label.