LOS ANGELES — Comedian and television personality Carlos Mencia was charged with 12 felony tax-related counts this week after prosecutors alleged he failed to report millions of dollars in income and did not file required state tax returns over a six-year period, authorities said.
The charges were announced Thursday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege Mencia, whose legal name is Ned Arnel Holness, failed to report approximately $8.7 million in personal and corporate income between 2019 and 2024, resulting in more than $300,000 in unpaid California state taxes.
According to District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Mencia faces six felony counts of failing to file personal income tax returns with intent to evade taxes and six additional felony counts related to corporate tax filings. The charges represent the first case brought by the office's recently established Business Tax Fraud Unit.
Authorities said Mencia, 58, was arrested Thursday morning at his home in the Los Angeles area. Prosecutors said he was being held on bail and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Monday at the Van Nuys courthouse. Court records reviewed by news organizations did not indicate that he had entered a plea as of Friday.
“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 announcing the charges. Prosecutors said the case was intended to demonstrate increased enforcement against alleged tax evasion by high-income earners and businesses.
The district attorney's office alleged that the California Franchise Tax Board sent Mencia dozens of notices regarding unfiled returns during the period covered by the investigation. Prosecutors said approximately $5 million of the allegedly unreported income was tied to his business activities.
Mencia rose to national prominence through stand-up comedy and the Comedy Central television program Mind of Mencia, which aired during the 2000s. He has continued performing live comedy in recent years.
Attorneys representing Mencia did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the Associated Press and other media reports. Prosecutors said that if convicted on all counts, he could face a prison sentence exceeding a decade, along with repayment of taxes, interest and any applicable penalties.
As of Friday, the criminal case remained pending, and prosecutors had not announced any additional charges beyond those already filed. Mencia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
