Comedian Carlos Mencia was charged with tax evasion Thursday after he was accused of failing to pay personal and business taxes for six years, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the 12 charges against Mencia, who allegedly did not report personal and business income between 2019 and 2024, amounting to about $8.7 million.
“That translates into over $300,000 of state tax. And that, by the way, we’re not even dealing with whatever federal tax obligations he may have also not complied with,” Hochman said.
Among the amount Mencia allegedly did not report, $5.4 million comes from his business Nedlos Entertainment, according to the DA’s Office.
The DA also alleged Mencia was notified to pay the taxes 78 times.
The 58-year-old was arrested at his Encino home at around 7 a.m. Thursday with his bail set at $250,000, according to the DA’s office.
This is the first tax-related investigation by the Business Tax Fraud Unit that Hochman’s office established last month to focus on white-collar crimes.
The LA County’s tax investigation against Mencia does not involve federal authorities as of date, but the DA said his office will working with the Internal Revenue Service to potentially nail down additional tax-related charges.
If convicted as charged, Mencia could face over 10 years in state prison, in addition to having to pay back the taxes, Hochman said.
Mencia, whose legal name is Ned Arnel Mencia, is best known for the Comedy Central series “Mind of Mencia.”
NBC Los Angeles reached out to Mencia’s representatives.
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