Comedian Carlos Mencia Charged with Tax Evasion and Failing to Report $8.7 Million in Income
If convicted as charged, Carlos Mencia faces 11 years, four months in prison
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman today announced felony state tax evasion charges against comedian Carlos Mencia for failing to report $8.7 million in personal and corporate income taxes between tax years 2019-2024. This is the first case filed by the Office’s newly established Business Tax Fraud Unit.
“Mr. Mencia has an income most people can only dream of, and like everyone else he is required to file his personal and corporate tax returns and pay his fair share,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Failing to report millions of dollars in income is a slap in the face to hardworking Californians who diligently file and pay their taxes every year because they care about their communities and the public goods, like police, fire, roads, and utilities, their tax dollars provide. Today we are sending a message to the tax scofflaws that it is no longer business as usual in Los Angeles County – the days of a free pass for failing to file returns and pay taxes are over.”
Carlos Mencia, aka Ned Arnel Holness (dob 10/22/67) was charged in case 26VWCF01161 with 12 felony counts of tax evasion: six felony counts of failure to file personal income tax with the intent to evade tax and six felony counts of failure to file corporate income tax with the intent to evade tax.
Mencia allegedly failed to file any taxes for tax years 2019-2024.
The charges correspond to each of the six years Mencia allegedly failed to file taxes on his personal and corporate income.
Arraignment is scheduled for June 22 in Department 100 of the Van Nuys Courthouse. Mencia was arrested today and remains in custody. The Court set bail at $250,000.
Mencia allegedly failed to report approximately $8.7 million in personal income and corporate income tax over tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024: approximately $3.3 million in personal income and approximately $5.4 million in corporate income for his company Nedlos Entertainment, Inc. Mencia is the CEO and owner of Nedlos.
The California Franchise Tax Board mailed Mencia 78 demand notices to his residence during this period, informing him of his obligation to file tax returns and advising him that no returns had been received.
Mencia allegedly owes over $300,000 in taxes to the state of California: approximately $267,594 in personal income taxes and approximately $35,117 in corporate income taxes.
Mencia is on the California Franchise Tax Board’s list of top 500 tax delinquencies in both the personal and corporate income categories. Top 500 past due balances | FTB.ca.gov
If convicted as charged, Mencia faces up to 11 years and four months in state prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney in Charge Michele Hanisee of the Business Tax Fraud Unit and Head Deputy District Attorney Alex Karkanen of the Consumer Protection Division. It remains under investigation by the California Franchise Tax Board.
The Business Tax Fraud Unit was established in May 2026 as a specialized unit to strengthen the Office’s ability to investigate and prosecute business tax-related offenses that undermine public trust, deprive government entities of critical revenue and often exploit vulnerable individuals and businesses. The unit works closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure a coordinated and effective response to tax fraud schemes.
Read the complaint here: Carlos Mencia Complaint
The charges in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
