Comic Carlos Mencia arrested on suspicion of felony tax evasion
Los Angeles Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Comedian Carlos Mencia was arrested in Los Angeles on 12 felony counts of tax evasion for allegedly failing to file state tax returns from 2019 to 2024, with unreported earnings totaling $8.7 million.
- Mencia faces six counts of failure to file personal income tax and six counts of failure to file corporate income tax, with alleged tax debt exceeding $300,000 to California.
- The case is the first prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s new Business Tax Fraud Unit, and Mencia’s bail was set at $250,000; if convicted, he could face over 10 years in prison.
- Mencia previously faced federal tax issues in 2021, with the IRS claiming he and his wife owed over $1.2 million for 2013 to 2015.
- Known for his Comedy Central show “Mind of Mencia,” the comedian has faced past controversy over accusations of joke theft and has spoken publicly about the mental toll of that scandal.
