U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

          Litigation Release No. 16040 / January 22, 1999

          U.S. v. RANDALL SMITH KUHLMANN, et al. Criminal Case No.
          97-CRZ871-H, U.S.D.C., S.D. Cal.


               The  U.S.  Attorney  for the Southern District of California
          and  the Securities and Exchange  Commission  announced  that  on
          January  12,  1999, Judge Marilyn Huff sentenced David Darling to
          46 months in prison  in  connection  with  a  scheme  to  defraud
          investors  in  Amtel  Communications,  Inc.   Darling and Randall
          Kuhlmann pled guilty to fraudulently inducing potential investors
          to  invest  in  Amtel’s  sale-leaseback  pay  telephone  program.
          Kuhlmann will be sentenced on April 19, 1999.

               The criminal charges against Darling and Kuhlmann  are based
          on the same activities alleged in a civil action brought  by  the
          Commission  on  July  17,  1995,  against  Amtel,  Kuhlmann,  and
          Darling.  The Commission alleged that the defendants raised $51.4
          million  from investors by selling pay telephones, contracting to
          lease the  pay telephones for $50 per month, and repurchasing the
          pay telephones  at  the  original cost when the lease terminated.
          Amtel also conducted a Ponzi  scheme, whereby investors were paid
          with new investor money.

               For further information, please see Litigation Release Nos.
          LR-15547 and LR-14713.