'Mind of Mencia' comic Carlos Mencia arrested on suspicion of felony tax evasion, L.A. County D.A. announces

Comedian Carlos Mencia, who broke retired successful the aboriginal 2000s with his Comedy Central bid “Mind of Mencia,” was arrested Thursday greeting successful Los Angeles connected suspicion of a twelve felony taxation evasion counts.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman announced the 58-year-old comedian’s apprehension during a quality league Thursday day and said Mencia faces 12 transgression taxation evasion counts implicit his nonaccomplishment to taxable his authorities taxation returns from 2019 to 2024. Hochman alleged that Mencia, who erstwhile spoke favorably astir paying taxes during a drama acceptable successful the aboriginal aughts, failed to study a full of $8.7 cardinal successful net from idiosyncratic income and firm profits from his NedLos Entertainment company. Mencia is accused of six felony counts of nonaccomplishment to record idiosyncratic income taxation with the intent to evade taxation and six felony counts of nonaccomplishment to record firm income taxation with the intent to evade tax.

Hochman said the comic paid his taxes earlier 2019 and that the California Franchise Tax Board sent much than 70 request notices regarding his delinquent taxation returns. According to the territory attorney’s office, Mencia allegedly owes much than $300,000 successful taxes to the state.

Mencia’s lawsuit is the archetypal to beryllium prosecuted nether the territory attorney’s caller Business Tax Fraud Unit. The territory attorney’s bureau said earlier connected Thursday that Hochman would denote the charges successful a quality conference.

A typical for Mencia declined to remark connected Thursday. His arraignment is acceptable for Monday.

Officials confirmed that the Honduran comedian (born Ned Arnel Holness) was arrested astir 7 a.m. astatine his location successful Encino and is presently successful custody with bail acceptable for $250,000. Hochman said that Mencia, if convicted connected each 12 counts, faces much than 10 years successful situation and volition beryllium required to wage each taxes and interest. Mencia antecedently faced ineligible woes implicit taxes successful 2021 erstwhile the Internal Revenue Service alleged helium and his woman owed much than $1.2 cardinal successful national taxes from 2013 to 2015.

Mencia is champion known for his Comedy Central amusement “Mind of Mencia,” which aired for 4 seasons from July 2005 to July 2008. The bid showcased his irreverent consciousness of humor, which often included radical stereotypes of assorted minorities. Mencia notably faced scrutiny among the drama ellipse successful the aboriginal aughts erstwhile comic-turned-podcaster Joe Rogan publically accused Mencia astatine the Comedy Store of ripping worldly from different comedians and himself. More than a decennary aft the scandal, Mencia said successful a 2019 interrogation that helium remains steadfast that his worldly was his ain and revealed the contention led him to a acheronian intelligence space.

“I wanted to stroke up my beingness and commencement implicit again,” helium said astatine the time.

Mencia has scores of shows lined up for the summer, including respective upcoming sets this week astatine Irvine Improv. The drama nine did not instantly respond to a telephone astir the presumption of those shows.