Comedian Carlos Mencia was taken into custody in Los Angeles after being labeled “one of California’s biggest tax scofflaws.”
The Mind of Mencia star was arrested at his home on Thursday morning, June 18, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
The comedian was charged with 12 felony tax-related counts — six felony counts of failure to file personal income tax and six felony counts of failure to file corporate income tax.
At a news conference that streamed online, the D.A. said Mencia is “on the California Franchise Tax Board’s list of the 500 greatest tax delinquents in both personal and corporate income categories.”
He described the comedian as an “award winner for an award you don’t want.”
The D.A. alleged Mencia, born Ned Arnel Holness, failed to report $8.7 million in personal and corporate income from 2019-2024.
“Mr. Mencia has an income most people can only dream of, and like everyone else he is required to file his personal and corporate tax returns and pay his fair share,” Hochman said in a statement.
He alleged the comedian failed to report approximately $3.3 million in personal income and $5.4 million in corporate income for his company Nedlos Entertainment, Inc.
According to Hochman, the California Franchise Tax Board mailed Mencia “78 demand notices” letting him know he was required to file tax returns. Hochman said those notices went unanswered.
“Mr. Mencia thought that maybe taxes are a laughing matter. But they’re not a laughing matter, it’s a matter of fairness,” Hochman told reporters at the news conference.
Mencia, 58, allegedly owes more than $300,000 in state taxes — about $267,594 in personal income taxes and $35,117 in corporate income taxes.
The comedian’s arrest was the first case presented by the district attorney’s newly established Business Tax Fraud Unit.
“Today we are sending a message to the tax scofflaws that it is no longer business as usual in Los Angeles County – the days of a free pass for failing to file returns and pay taxes are over,” Hochman said.
Mencia is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, June 22. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 11 years and four months in state prison and would be required to gand over any unpaid taxes, plus interest.
A representative for the comedian did not immediately respond to Urban Hollywood 411′s request for comment.
Mencia was born in Honduras and raised in the Maravilla Projects in Los Angeles, according to his IMDb page.
He began his career performing stand-up in local comedy clubs before launching Mind of Mencia on Comedy Central in 2005.
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