FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    2000-30

   Andrew J. Geist, Senior Associate Director of the Northeast
            Regional Office, To Leave SEC After 
                 Twelve Years of Service

     Washington, DC, March 14, 2000 - Andrew J. Geist, Senior
Associate Regional Director for Enforcement of the Securities and
Exhange Commission's Northeast Regional Office, today announced
that he will leave the Commission in April to become a partner of
the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP.  Mr. Geist will join that
firm's SEC enforcement practice group and be resident in its New
York office.  A successor has not been named.

     SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt said, "I am sad that we are
losing Andy to the world of private law practice.  He has
contributed significantly to the Commission's enforcement efforts
for over a decade.  I know from working with Andy that he is a
tenacious investigator and litigator.  Those qualities, along
with his dedication to the SEC's mission of investor protection,
have served the public well."

     SEC Enforcement Division Director Richard H. Walker said, "I
have had the great privilege of working side by side with Andy
both as Director of Enforcement and, formerly, as head of the
Northeast Regional Office.  He is a gifted attorney and a
dedicated public servant.  His enormous contributions to this
agency, to the growth and success of the Northeast Regional
Office, and to the protection of investors and our markets will
secure his place among the greats in this agency's history."

     Carmen Lawrence, Director of the SEC's Northeast Regional
Office said, "Andy is an extraordinarily gifted lawyer who has
served this office and this agency with distinction.  I have
worked closely with Andy over the years and I value his sound
judgment, excellent legal skills and friendship.  He will be
impossible to replace."

     Mr. Geist, 37, became Senior Associate Regional Director in
September 1999, after serving in various capacities in the
Enforcement Division of the Northeast Regional Office since 1988.
In addition, Mr. Geist served as a Legal Counsel to former SEC
Commissioner Mary L. Schapiro in 1990 and 1991.  As a senior
enforcement staff member, Mr. Geist has been responsible for a
significant number of major enforcement initiatives, including:

  *  The SEC's investigation of and enforcement action against
     the New York Stock Exchange for failing to conduct surveillance
     for floor broker violations;

  *  The SEC's investigation of and litigation against The
     Bennett Funding Group, a billion dollar "Ponzi" scheme;

  *  One of the first Commission enforcement actions involving
     bribes and kickbacks in the municipal securities industry; and,

  *  Numerous Commission investigations and enforcement actions
     involving "boiler rooms," insider trading, financial fraud and
     Internet fraud.

     In addition, in 1995 Mr. Geist was the sole recipient of the
SEC's Stanley Sporkin Award, which is awarded by the Chairman of
the Securities and Exhange Commission in recognition of
outstanding contributions to the SEC's Enforcement program.

     Mr. Geist said, "My time with the Commission has been
extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally.  For
more than twelve years, I have had the honor of working with
talented, dedicated people who are committed to protecting
investors.  I will miss the camaraderie that developed in
tackling the complicated cases and issues that the Commission
faces on a daily basis.  However, I look forward to working with
another outstanding group of people at O'Melveny & Myers."

     Mr. Geist graduated from Fordham University School of Law
and the University of Virginia.

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