Comedian Carlos Mencia arrested at LA home, charged with felony tax evasion

Carlos Mencia was arrested this week and charged with failing to pay taxes for six years.

Published: June 19, 2026 4:35pm

Comedian Carlos Mencia was charged with 12 felonies after he failed to file taxes for six years.

Between 2019 and 2024, Mencia allegedly failed to file taxes for personal and corporate income, totaling about $8.7 million. He reportedly received at least 78 warning notices that went ignored, the Associated Press reported. His total tax liability for that period is more than $300,000.

Mencia was arrested at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday morning as investigators scoured the property for related documents. He was held on $250,000 bail. The charges only apply to state taxes, and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told the the news service he hasn’t been informed by the IRS regarding Mencia’s federal taxes. If convicted on all counts, Mencia faces more than 11 years in prison, plus interest on the tax bill that could nearly double what he owes.

Hochman called Mencia “one of California’s biggest tax scofflaws.” The arrest is part of Hochman’s Business Tax Fraud Unit that was established in May.

Mencia rose to prominence in the early 2000s, until podcast host and fellow comedian Joe Rogan confronted him on state in 2007 and accused him of stealing material. Other comedians also accused Mencia of stealing their sets, and Mencia’s Comedy Central program, “Mind of Mencia,” was canceled. Mencia has continued to perform stand-up since that time.

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