LOS ANGELES – Comedian Carlos Mencia was arrested Thursday and charged with 12 felony counts for not reporting or paying taxes on over $8 million in earnings, according to prosecutors.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman spoke at a news conference, labeling Mencia “one of California’s biggest tax scofflaws.” This term refers to someone who deliberately avoids paying taxes.
The 58-year-old comedian is facing six felony charges for failing to file personal income tax returns from 2019 to 2024, as well as six similar charges concerning corporate taxes.
According to Hochman, Mencia owes more than $300,000 in state taxes on income that totals approximately $8.7 million. As of now, he has not entered a plea, and attempts to reach his attorney for comment have gone unanswered.
Mencia was taken into custody at his home in Los Angeles early Thursday morning and was held on a $250,000 bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday. If convicted of all charges, he could face over 11 years in prison, in addition to paying the owed taxes and interest, which could significantly increase the total amount owed.
These charges are the first to be filed under the newly established Business Tax Fraud Unit by District Attorney Hochman, who has extensive experience in prosecuting tax-related cases.
Hochman explained that Mencia had regularly paid taxes prior to 2019 and had received 78 notices from the state regarding his outstanding taxes, but did not respond to any of them. It is important to note that these charges are specifically related to state taxes; the IRS has not reported on Mencia’s federal tax situation.
Born Ned Arnel Holness in Honduras and raised in East Los Angeles, Mencia began his stand-up career in the late 1980s. By the early 2000s, he had become one of the most recognized comics in the U.S. He starred in his own TV series, “Mind of Mencia,” which aired on Comedy Central from 2005 to 2008, blending stand-up with sketch comedy.
During the news conference, Hochman referenced a quote from Mencia’s 2007 show: “Maybe I’m different, but I think taxes are a good thing.”
Mencia’s comedy often focused on topics like race, class, and Latino culture. However, his career faced challenges after accusations of joke theft emerged, which he has consistently denied. In 2007, Joe Rogan famously confronted him on stage about these allegations, leading to a viral moment.
Despite these controversies, Mencia continues to perform stand-up, touring clubs and small theaters. He has upcoming shows scheduled in Southern California this week and in Las Vegas next week.
