Comedian Carlos Mencia brushes off alleged $8.7M tax dodge with brazen seven-word statement

Comedian Carlos Mencia brushes off alleged $8.7M tax dodge with brazen seven-word statement

Comedian Carlos Mencia isn’t shying away from his tax mistakes, getting very blunt with The California Post on exactly what led to his multimillion-dollar case.

“All I did was not pay my taxes,” the comedian, facing 12 felonies connected to his more than $8 million in alleged tax fraud, told The Post as he left an LA courthouse Tuesday.

“Being arrested, the guns, that was a very shocking thing. I was compared to Al Capone, all I did was not pay taxes. I never cheated on them, I never got paid in cash, I never didn’t sign a 1099. How much money I made will come out because I never hid that,” he added.

Carlos Mencia in court with famed attorney Dana Cole David Buchan for Ca Post
Cole argued that Mencia should be able to list his LA estate in order to help pay his over $300,000 tax bill. David Buchan for Ca Post

Mencia, wearing a University of Oregon jacket and a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Super Funny,” was joined by his wife and attorney Dana Cole. Cole argued the comedian should be able to list his LA estate in order to help pay his over $300,000 tax bill.

Cole also attempted to unfreeze assets from Mencia’s Citibank account so he could pay living expenses and his attorney fees as they continue to fight the multiple charges against him for allegedly not paying tax on $8.7 million in earnings.

Judge Alicia Blanco ruled Mencia could list his Encino mansion, believed to be valued at over $4.5 million. The judge also allowed for $100,000 to be taken from the bank account. 

Mencia was the first arrest related to DA Nathan Hochman’s newly formed Business Tax Fraud Unit. David Buchan for Ca Post

“At the end of the day we are going to take care of this. It’s how we got there that’s a little painful from a psychological and physical standpoint. They got what they wanted, they got the attention to this issue from me, so it is what it is,” Mencia told The Post.

After the hearing Mencia spoke exclusively to The Post where he addressed the charges against him and his Father’s Day Weekend arrest in detail for the first time.  David Buchan for Ca Post
Mencia allegedly failed to file any taxes for tax years 2019-2024. Frederick M. Brown for CA Post

Mencia was the first arrest related to DA Nathan Hochman’s newly formed Business Tax Fraud Unit last month. Mencia allegedly failed to file taxes from 2019 to 2024. The California Franchise Tax Board allegedly mailed 78 demand notices to his residence.

David Buchan for Ca Post

Investigators descended on Mencia’s property in the bust — hauling out boxes, sealed cases, and bags of electronics and evidence tied to the sweeping tax fraud investigation. 

Judge Blanco ruled that the comedian could list his Encino mansion, believed to be valued at over  4.5 million. WireImage

Mencia requested his phones and computers be returned during Tuesday’s hearing. “He desperately needs these things,” Cole argued.

It was revealed that Mencia has property valued at $150,000 in escrow in Oregon and that both Mencia and his wife had their licenses suspended by the California Franchise Tax Board.

Before his case was called, Mencia was watching the World Cup game between Spain and France in the court gallery. When asked who he was rooting for he said, “doesn’t matter, with Mexico and USA out I have no skin in the game. 

The comedian has two gigs scheduled in Vegas this week, and says the arrest has become part of his stand-up.

“As I say on stage, I was waiting for a pink bill to show up, the one that says you’re about to be cut off. I was waiting for that from the franchise tax board, and they gave it to me in a manner i just didn’t expect,” he told The Post.

Mencia is expected back in court August 14th. 


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