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          UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 15361 / May 8, 1997

SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION v.  JOHN F.  APTT,  et. al.,
Civil Action No. 93-K-937, USDC/Colorado

     The Commission announced today that Judge John L. Kane,  Jr.
granted  the it's motion for temporary restraining order.   The
Order  prohibits any further sales of securities by John F. Aptt,
Financial Instruments Group and its subsidiaries, Financial
Instruments Corporation, World Financial Instruments, Global
Financial Instruments, International Financial Instruments,
National Financial Instruments and Regional Financial
Instruments.  The Order also appointed Professor Mark Lowenstein
as a special officer of the Court to take control of FIG and its
subsidiaries, and froze all assets of the defendants pending  the
court's determination on the Commission's request for
disgorgement.

     Yesterday The Commission filed a complaint in the United
States District Court for the District of Colorado against a
resident of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Financial Instruments
Group. The Commission's complaint charges them with violating the
antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws  by running a
Ponzi scheme which has raised at least $9 million from at least
450 investors.