Carlos Mencia Faces 12 Felony Tax Charges

Comedian Carlos Mencia has pleaded not guilty to 12 felony charges related to tax evasion. Accusations claim he did not report or pay taxes on over $8 million in earnings. The 58-year-old comedian appeared in a Los Angeles County court on Monday. During his arraignment, a judge reduced his bail from $250,000 to $50,000.

Mencia had been in custody since his arrest last Thursday. Although court documents confirm he posted bail, his release status remains unclear. Attempts to reach his attorney for comments were unsuccessful.

Mencia faces six felony charges of failing to file personal income taxes from 2019 to 2024, with an intent to evade taxes. Additionally, he faces six similar charges for corporate taxes. District Attorney Nathan Hochman described Mencia as “one of California’s biggest tax scofflaws.” Hochman claims Mencia owes over $300,000 in state taxes on income totaling $8.7 million. If convicted on all counts, Mencia could face over 11 years in prison.

These charges arise under the district attorney’s new Business Tax Fraud Unit, established in May. This unit aims to tackle tax fraud cases.

Mencia, originally named Ned Arnel Holness, was born in Honduras and grew up in East Los Angeles. His stand-up career began in LA clubs in the late 1980s. By the early 2000s, he gained popularity and ventured into acting in films and television. His show, “Mind of Mencia,” aired from 2005 to 2008 on Comedy Central, combining stand-up with sketches.

Despite his legal troubles, Mencia continues performing stand-up, touring clubs and small theaters. However, he missed several Southern California shows due to his recent incarceration.