<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 2,066,228 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 262,490,416 <ALLOWANCES> (10,013,791) <INVENTORY> 87,658,058 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 17,827,512 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 425,528,608 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 293,630,283 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 30,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 280,897 <OTHER-SE> 77,717,705 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 425,528,608 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 38,164,494 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 33,548,220 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,782,756 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,049,003 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,616,274 <INCOME-TAX> 1,950,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,666,274 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,666,274 <EPS-BASIC> 0.09 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.09