Comedian Carlos Mencia Charged By L.A. Business Tax Fraud Unit, Watch Live

Carlos Mencia is getting hit with criminal charges in Los Angeles today … and TMZ is streaming live as prosecutors start laying out their case.

The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office is set up outside the Hall of Justice in downtown, with D.A. Nathan Hochman gearing up to announce the charges.

Mencia has been charged with 12 counts … six connected to his personal tax returns and six to his business tax returns, Hochman says. He alleges Mencia failed to report more than $8 million in income.

Hochman says, if convicted on all 12 counts, Mencia could face more than 10 years in prison … as well as having to pay taxes and interest he allegedly owes back. Mencia has been arrested and bail has been set at $250K.

The district attorney says state officials tried to contact Mencia nearly 80 times between 2019 and 2024 … but alleges Mencia never responded.

As we previously reported, Carlos’ case is the first for L.A.’s newly created Business Tax Fraud Unit. Hochman sent out a news release earlier today, saying charges would be announced this afternoon … and now the big reveal is here.

The comedian’s had tax troubles in the past. The IRS filed a lien back in July 2021, according to a report from NR Today.

The lien alleges Carlos and his wife, Amy, didn’t pay their federal income tax for three years … and owe the government almost $1.2 million.