{"success":true,"data":{"id":"8a2731a1-e857-45f6-94ab-ea5b2f735a3e","title":"Comedian Carlos Mencia brushes off alleged $8.7M tax dodge with brazen seven-word statement","summary":"exclusive 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.","content":"exclusive\n\n# Comedian Carlos Mencia brushes off alleged $8.7M tax dodge with brazen seven-word statement\n\nComedian Carlos Mencia isn’t shying away from [his tax mistakes](https://nypost.com/2026/06/22/us-news/california-comedian-carlos-mencia-pleads-not-guilty-to-tax-fraud-charges/), getting very blunt with The California Post on exactly what led to his multimillion-dollar case.\n\n“All I did was not pay my taxes,” the comedian,[facing 12 felonies connected](https://nypost.com/2026/06/22/entertainment/carlos-mencia-demands-release-from-jail-after-arrest-in-california-tax-fraud-case/) to his more than $8 million in alleged tax fraud, told The Post as he left an LA courthouse Tuesday.\n\n“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.\n\nCarlos Mencia in court with famed attorney Dana Cole David Buchan for Ca Post\n\nCole 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\n\nMencia, 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.\n\n## Explore More\n\nCole 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](https://nypost.com/2026/06/18/us-news/comedian-carlos-mencia-faces-criminal-charges-in-la/) against him for allegedly not paying tax on $8.7 million in earnings.\n\nJudge 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.\n\nMencia was the first arrest related to DA Nathan Hochman’s newly formed Business Tax Fraud Unit. David Buchan for Ca Post\n\n“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.\n\nAfter 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\n\nMencia allegedly failed to file any taxes for tax years 2019-2024. Frederick M. Brown for CA Post\n\nMencia 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.\n\nDavid Buchan for Ca Post\n\nInvestigators [descended on Mencia’s property in the bust](https://nypost.com/2026/06/18/us-news/carlos-mencia-encino-mansion-raid-huge-tax-bust/) — hauling out boxes, sealed cases, and bags of electronics and evidence tied to the sweeping tax fraud investigation.\n\nJudge Blanco ruled that the comedian could list his Encino mansion, believed to be valued at over 4.5 million. WireImage\n\nMencia requested his phones and computers be returned during Tuesday’s hearing. “He desperately needs these things,” Cole argued.\n\nIt 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.\n\nWhat do you think?[Be the first to comment.](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/carlos-mencia-defends-his-alleged-8-7m-tax-fraud/#nypost-openweb-conversation)\n\nBefore his case was called Mencina 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.\n\nThe comedian has two gigs scheduled in Vegas this week, and says the arrest has become part of his stand up,\n\n“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.\n\nMencia is expected back in court August 14th.\n\nFiled under\n\nSPONSORED STORIES\n\n#### Trending Now  on NYPost.com\n\n*   [![Image 22: Unspeakable new details in case of NJ woman, 25, charged with sexually assaulting young boy](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/comp-48.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/13/us-news/unspeakable-new-details-in-case-of-nj-woman-25-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-boy/)This story has been shared 84,577 times.84,577   ### [Unspeakable new details in case of NJ woman, 25, charged with sexually assaulting young boy](https://nypost.com/2026/07/13/us-news/unspeakable-new-details-in-case-of-nj-woman-25-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-boy/) \n*   [![Image 23: NJ babysitter brazenly left video evidence of sex abuse of toddler in diapers for mom to find: docs](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/134362736.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/nj-babysitter-brazenly-left-video-evidence-of-sex-abuse-of-toddler-in-diapers-for-mom-to-find-docs/)This story has been shared 69,006 times.69,006   ### [NJ babysitter brazenly left video evidence of sex abuse of toddler in diapers for mom to find: docs](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/nj-babysitter-brazenly-left-video-evidence-of-sex-abuse-of-toddler-in-diapers-for-mom-to-find-docs/) \n*   [![Image 24: WaPo fact-checks McConnell hospital photo featuring paper — with definitive findings](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/newspress-collage-useubz7bb-1784034523862.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1784020146&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/wapo-fact-checks-mitch-mcconnell-hospital-photo-featuring-paper/)This story has been shared 51,392 times.51,392   ### [WaPo fact-checks McConnell hospital photo featuring paper — with definitive findings](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/wapo-fact-checks-mitch-mcconnell-hospital-photo-featuring-paper/) \n\n#### Most Commented Join the conversation\n\n## Now on Page Six\n\nYou are viewing**1** of **7**images Previous Image Next Image\n\n## More Stories\n\n### Page Six\n\n### Decider\n\n### NYPost","source_name":"New York Post","source_url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/carlos-mencia-defends-his-alleged-8-7m-tax-fraud/","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/carlos-mencia-defends-his-alleged-8-7m-tax-fraud/","author":"Jeremy Louwerse","author_name":"Jeremy Louwerse","published_at":"2026-07-15T00:17:01.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-15T00:17:01.000Z","image_url":"https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6IjAzZWYyOTZlOGFlMjI4Mjc5NDZlMDVjNzgxMDdiNTdjN2Y0YzE3MTI0YjM3YTk4ZmUwNjkyZWMzNjlkNzM2ZDIiLCJ3Ijo5MCwiaCI6NjAsImQiOjEuMCwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":5,"word_count":843,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}