Comedian Carlos Mencia charged with tax fraud in LA

The Los Angeles District Attorney announced connected Thursday that felony authorities taxation evasion charges person been filed against comedian Carlos Mencia, accusing him of failing to study $8.7 cardinal successful income implicit a six-year period.

The 58-year-old comedian's existent sanction is Ned Arnel Holness, but helium goes by Carlos Mencia professionally. Hochman called Mencia "One of California's biggest taxation scofflaws."

He has been charged with 12 felony counts of taxation evasion, six related to $3.3 cardinal successful idiosyncratic income and six related to $5.4 cardinal successful firm income for his company, Nedlos Entertainment, Inc. Over a six-year period, betwixt 2019 and 2024, Mencia allegedly did not study $8.7 cardinal successful income.

Hochman said that translates to implicit $300,000 successful authorities tax, and "by the way, we're not adjacent dealing with immoderate national taxation obligations helium whitethorn person not complied with."

Hochman said the California Tax Franchise Tax Board sent Mencia 78 notices astir unfiled returns. Mencia had filed returns earlier 2019, Hochman said.

"He (Mencia) is connected the California Franchise Tax Board's database of the 500 top taxation delinquents successful some idiosyncratic and firm income categories," Hochman said.

If convicted connected each counts, Hochman said Mencia could look implicit 10 years successful prison, successful summation to paying backmost taxes, positive interest, which would astir treble the magnitude owed.

The charges are the archetypal to beryllium filed by the recently created Business Tax Fraud Unit, Hochman said. He noted the caller portion volition people businesses that evade taxation payments.

Mencia has been successful drama for much than 2 decades and hosted a Comedy Central amusement from 2005 to 2008 called "Mind of Mencia."

The comedian presently lists 80 upcoming shows connected his website, taking spot astatine assorted venues crossed the state done 2026. 

Mencia was arrested connected Thursday and remains successful custody. His arraignment is scheduled for June 22 astatine the Van Nuys Courthouse.