VAN NUYS (CNS) – Comedian Carlos Mencia was arrested today in connection with a criminal case charging him with a dozen felony tax-related counts, Los Angeles County District Attorney Hochman announced today.
The 58-year-old entertainer remains behind bars in lieu of $250,000 bail pending his anticipated arraignment Monday in a Van Nuys courtroom on the 12 charges — six involving his personal taxes and six others involving his corporate taxes, according to the district attorney.
The district attorney called Mencia “one of California’s biggest tax scofflaws,” saying that he is “on the California Franchise Tax Board’s list of the 500 greatest tax delinquents in both personal and corporate income categories.”
Six of the charges relate to personal tax returns that he failed to file between 2019 and 2024, while the other six involve corporate tax returns that he failed to file during that period, Hochman said.
“In total, the amount of income that he failed to report … between 2019 and 2024, as alleged in the charges, is $8.7 million. That translates into over $300,000 of state tax,” he said.
Mencia was taken into custody at about 7:05 a.m. Thursday at his Encino home, according to Michele Hanisee, who heads the District Attorney’s newly created Business Tax Fraud Unit.
If convicted as charged, he could face a maximum of over 10 years in prison, along with having to pay the unpaid taxes and interest, Hochman said.
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