<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated Statements of Operations and Balance Sheets and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1997 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 834,361 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,883,937 <ALLOWANCES> 195,339 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 13,555,039 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 79,420,302 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 37,564,232 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 190,184 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 15,852,669 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 79,420,302 <SALES> 10,859,233 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 10,859,233 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 10,658,042 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 414,269 <INCOME-PRETAX> (213,078) <INCOME-TAX> 42,830 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (255,908) <DISCONTINUED> (13,520,374) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (13,826,282) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.70) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.70)