Comedian Carlos Mencia charged with 12 felony counts in tax investigation: LA County DA
Comedian Carlos Mencia has been charged with 12 felony tax counts, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Thursday.
Prosecutors allege Mencia, 58, failed to file personal and corporate tax returns over a six-year period and did not report about $8.7 million in income, resulting in more than $300,000 in unpaid state taxes.
The case is the first brought by the district attorney's newly launched Business Tax Fraud Unit.
At a news conference Thursday, Hochman described Mencia as "one of California's biggest tax scofflaws" and said the comedian appears on the California Franchise Tax Board's list of the state's 500 largest tax delinquents in both personal and corporate income tax categories.
According to prosecutors, Mencia is charged with six felony counts related to personal income tax returns and six felony counts related to corporate tax returns. Authorities allege he failed to report both corporate and personal income between 2019 and 2024.
Hochman said the California Franchise Tax Board sent Mencia 78 notices regarding his tax obligations during that period, but he allegedly did not respond to any of them.
Prosecutors allege approximately $5.4 million of the unreported income was tied to Mencia's company.
Authorities arrested Mencia on Thursday, and he remained in custody following the announcement. Bail was set at $250,000. Prosecutors said he is expected to be arraigned Monday in Van Nuys.
If convicted on all counts, Mencia could face more than 10 years in state prison, according to prosecutors. He could also be ordered to repay the taxes owed, along with interest and potential civil penalties.
ABC News has reached out to a public relations representative for Mencia.
