Owner Profile: Jay Cohen

Background and Roles

Jay Cohen is associated with Northern Leasing Systems. According to our review of Northern Leasing Systems, the company provides payment processing and merchant services to businesses. Cohen has been involved in the company’s operations within the payment processing industry.

Legal, Regulatory, and Reputation Notes

Jay Cohen (also known as Ari Jay Cohen) was named as a principal defendant in a 2016 lawsuit filed by the New York State Attorney General against Northern Leasing Systems, Inc. and affiliated companies. According to the Attorney General, Northern Leasing engaged in fraudulent and deceptive practices that trapped small business owners into overpriced, never-ending lease agreements for credit card processing equipment. The company targeted small family-owned businesses and allegedly abused the judicial process by suing to collect on these leases. In a follow-up action in 2020, the Attorney General obtained full relief against successor entities that were found to be continuing the same fraudulent practices. The court determined that companies owned by trusts benefiting the families of Cohen and co-owner Leonard Mezei were collecting on leases that had been rescinded as part of the original fraudulent scheme.