'Joke thief' Carlos Mencia arrested for tax evasion

Comic faces up to 11 years jail if convicted

American comedian Carlos Mencia has often been branded a joke thief – but now he’s been accused of a far worse crime.

The stand-up was arrested yesterday and charged with 12 felony counts of tax evasion.

Prosecutors said the comic failed to report $8.7million (£6.5million) in personal and corporate income taxes between 2019 and 2025, and owes the state of California more than $300,000 (£225,000).

If convicted on all charges, the 58-year-old comedian – whose real name is Ned Arnel Holness – faces up to 11 years and four months in state prison. He is currently in custody on $250,000 bail.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said: '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.

‘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.’

Mencia faces two felony counts of failure to file personal income tax and corporate income tax with the intent to evade tax in each of the six years in question. The full complaint is here. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Prosecutors say tax authorities sent Mencia 78 demand notices telling him that no returns had been received.

In 2005, Joe Rogan wrote a post on his website publicly accusing Mencia of being a plagiarist, alleging that Mencia stole jokes from a number of comedians – including George Lopez, Bobby Lee, and Ari Shaffir – and later dubbed him ‘Mensteali’.

George Lopez also accused Mencia of plagiarising his material, while he has also been accused of stealing a routine from Bill Cosby about a father who spends years training his son for a career as a football player, only to see the son say ‘I love you, Mom!’ at his moment of televised victory.

Mencia has always denied the accusations of joke theft.