Carlos Mencia has been identified by prosecutors as one of California’s most serious tax delinquents after the comedian was arrested at his Encino home over allegations that he failed to report about $8.7 million in income, leaving more than $300,000 in state taxes unpaid.
The 58-year-old former Mind of Mencia star pleaded not guilty Monday to 12 felony tax-related counts. His plea came days after armed agents carried out a raid at his mansion, an action his attorneys later criticized as an “absurd show of force.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Mencia, whose legal name is Ned Arnel Mencia, is accused of failing to file tax returns tied to millions of dollars in personal and corporate income from 2019 through 2024.
According to Hochman, the California Franchise Tax Board sent the comedian 78 demand notices alerting him that required returns had not been submitted.
Prosecutors allege Mencia nevertheless did not report roughly $8.7 million in earnings during the five-year period, resulting in more than $300,000 in unpaid state tax obligations.
“He thought maybe taxes were a laughing matter,” Hochman said while announcing the case last week.
Hochman added that his office intends to pursue individuals who “chose to take an unfair advantage.”
In outlining the charges, the district attorney also characterized Mencia as one of California’s “500 greatest tax delinquents” and among the state’s most prominent alleged tax scofflaws.
Comedian Carlos Mencia stuck his tongue out in court as he pleaded not guilty Monday to 12 felony counts linked to alleged failures to file personal and corporate tax returns
Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman called Mencia one of California’s biggest tax scofflaws while announcing the case
Mencia now faces six felony counts of failing to file a personal income tax return with intent to evade taxes and another six felony counts involving alleged failures to file corporate tax returns.
The corporate allegations are tied to Nedlos Entertainment, Inc., the company where Mencia is listed as chief executive and owner.
Authorities allege roughly $3.3million in personal income and $5.4million in corporate earnings went unreported.
If convicted on all counts, prosecutors have said Mencia could face more than 11 years in state prison.
The comic appeared in Van Nuys court on Monday wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Johnny CASH’ as eight relatives, including his wife Amy, turned out to support him.
At one point, Mencia looked toward his family, shook his head and looked down, according to the New York Post.
His bail was initially set at $250,000, but a judge later lowered it to $50,000 following an emergency request from his legal team.
Mencia later made bail. The Post reported that he stuck out his tongue and laughed as he walked free from the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Prosecutors claim Mencia, 58, failed to report approximately $8.7million in income between 2019 and 2024
Mencia was arrested at his Encino home on June 18 as investigators executed a search warrant
His brother posted bail and was seen appearing distraught in court, with a woman beside him placing a hand on his back, according to the newspaper.
Mencia’s attorney Dana Cole said her client was ‘very depressed, very shell shocked’ after spending the long holiday weekend in jail.
‘It just didn’t seem… what he did which isn’t right that it would warrant what happened here,’ Cole told the Post.
ALSO READ: Horror at Zoo: Stranger Throws Child Into Crocodile Enclosure, Leaving Bystanders in Tears
‘It seems it was just overkill so to speak to toss him in jail for such an extended period. over a three-day holiday weekend.’
The emergency filing from Mencia’s attorneys accused law enforcement of transforming a tax case into an unnecessary spectacle.
‘No one argues against the obligation to pay taxes,’ the filing stated, according to court documents obtained by The California Post.
‘But the raid at his home with multiple law enforcement agents, screaming “search warrant” with a bullhorn, and drawing guns was an absurd show of force for the alleged offenses that do not involve weapons, drugs or violence.’
Mencia’s lawyers argued that the allegations involve a failure to report or pay taxes rather than accusations that he obtained money illegally.
They also said the disputed income came from his legitimate comedy and television career and predated the tax case.
Mencia’s lawyer Dana Cole, pictured, argued the allegations involve a failure to report or pay taxes rather than accusations that he obtained money illegally
The California Franchise Tax Board allegedly sent Mencia 78 notices warning that tax returns had not been received. Six charges relate to Mencia’s personal tax filings, while six others involve his business
His attorneys further argued that keeping him behind bars had already cost the performer dearly.
The filing said Mencia missed four nights of booked stand-up shows after his arrest, allegedly costing him up to $40,000 in lost income.
‘The defendant has now already paid a steep price by damaging his national reputation, incarcerating him for several days without the opportunity to post bail and missing out on four nights of a booked venue where he could have earned up to $40,000 that he would have willingly paid to the Franchise Tax Board to start to pay back any taxes owed,’ the filing said.
The comedian had been scheduled to perform at the Irvine Improv over the weekend, but the club removed promotions for his appearances after his arrest and replaced him with comedian Francisco Ramos.
Mencia was also due to appear at Jimmy Kimmel’s comedy club in Las Vegas, where four shows on June 24 and 25 and eight more July appearances remained listed online.
His lawyers are seeking the return of property taken during the Encino raid, including cellphones, laptops and the driver’s licenses of Mencia and his wife.
Mencia is seen in a locked courtroom cell alongside his laywer, Dana Cole
The defense said the computers contain ‘valuable proprietary information’ essential to Mencia’s comedy performances.
Mencia’s attorneys also submitted letters from friends and colleagues to argue that he was not a flight risk.
Producer Nicole ‘Nikki’ Rosenson, who worked with Mencia on Mind of Mencia, wrote that the comedian’s life should not be reduced to the criminal case.
‘It’s important to me that Carlos’ character is not reduced to a singular thing,’ Rosenson wrote. ‘He is a loving father and a loyal, kind friend.’
She said Mencia had helped struggling comedians by offering them opportunities early in their careers.
The motion said Mencia immigrated from Honduras to the United States when he was two and is the primary provider for his wife, two sons, his 83-year-old mother and extended family members.
The case is the first prosecution brought by Hochman’s newly created Business Tax Fraud Unit, which targets alleged financial crimes involving payroll taxes, fraud, falsified business records and underground-economy schemes.
For Mencia, the arrest has transformed a career built on punchlines into a criminal case that could carry more than a decade behind bars.
He is due back in Van Nuys court on August 14.
