Carlos Mencia is back in the headlines, and this time the controversy has nothing to do with joke theft.
The former Mind of Mencia star was arrested on Thursday morning, June 18, at his Encino home after Los Angeles prosecutors accused him of failing to file California tax returns between 2019 and 2024. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that Mencia allegedly failed to report roughly $8.7 million in personal and corporate income, resulting in 12 felony tax-related charges.
Authorities told The Los Angeles Times that the 58-year-old comedian, whose real name is Ned Arnel Holness, ignored more than 70 notices from the California Franchise Tax Board regarding delinquent filings. Prosecutors allege Mencia owes the state more than $300,000. He faces six counts related to personal income taxes and another six tied to his company, NedLos Entertainment. Bail was set at $250,000, and he is expected to be arraigned on Monday, June 22.
For comedy fans, Mencia's name has long been synonymous with controversy. His Comedy Central series Mind of Mencia made him one of the biggest stand-up stars of the mid-2000s, but his reputation took a major hit after a string of plagiarism accusations from fellow comics.
The most famous confrontation came in 2007, when Joe Rogan publicly called him out at The Comedy Store. Ari Shaffir, George Lopez, Bobby Lee, and others later accused Mencia of lifting material, while South Park famously roasted the scandal.
Now, Mencia is facing a very different kind of accusation.
The irony wasn't lost on Hochman, who noted that Mencia had consistently paid his taxes before 2019. Prosecutors say that changed over the last several years despite repeated warnings from the state.
Mencia faces more than 10 years in prison and would also be required to repay the taxes and interest he allegedly owes if he is convicted on all counts.
The case marks the first prosecution brought by the district attorney's newly established Business Tax Fraud Unit. Mencia has also faced tax issues before. In 2021, the IRS alleged that he and his wife owed more than $1.2 million in unpaid federal taxes stemming from 2013 through 2015.
