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Comedian Carlos Mencia is set to face criminal charges Thursday in what prosecutors say is the first case brought by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s newly created Business Tax Fraud Unit.
The charges against Mencia, 58, are expected to be revealed during a 2 p.m. press conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles, according to the office of DA Nathan Hochman.
Prosecutors have not disclosed the exact charges against Mencia, who shot to fame as the creator and host of the Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia, which aired from 2005 to 2008.
The case marks the debut prosecution for the newly minted Business Tax Fraud Unit, which focuses on complex financial crimes involving business tax evasion, payroll tax fraud, falsified business records and underground economy schemes.
The unit was created to pursue cases involving alleged theft of taxpayer funds and sophisticated tax fraud operations.
Mencia, born Ned Arnel Holness in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, immigrated to the US as an infant and was raised in East Los Angeles.
He became one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy in the mid-2000s, though his career was later overshadowed by accusations from fellow comedians that he stole jokes — allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Hochman — a former federal prosecutor who re-registered as an independent in 2023 after previously spending two decades each as a Republican and Democrat — is expected to provide additional details on the charges during Thursday’s announcement.
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