<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 536,775 <SECURITIES> 131,077,507 <RECEIVABLES> 2,306,020 <ALLOWANCES> (313,252) <INVENTORY> 3,829,270 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 6,519,245 <PP&E> 3,233,485 <DEPRECIATION> (1,082,621) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 141,327,416 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 50,175,870 <BONDS> 63,708,910 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 266,769 <PREFERRED> 16,908,025 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 10,267,842 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 141,327,416 <SALES> 3,431,767 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 6,357,184 <CGS> 1,819,440 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,819,440 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,769,005 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,172,738 <INCOME-PRETAX> 596,001 <INCOME-TAX> 140,154 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 455,847 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 455,847 <EPS-PRIMARY> .12 <EPS-DILUTED> .12