UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 15582 / December 8, 1997 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION V. TRINITY GAS CORPORATION AND SIDNEY W. SERS, Civil Action No.4-97CV-1018Y (N.D. Tex., Fort Worth Division) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it has filed a civil action against Trinity Gas Corporation ( Trinity USA ) and its President and Chief Executive Officer, Sidney W. Sers ( Sers ), alleging violations of the antifraud and securities registration provisions of the federal securities laws, as well as five additional defendants named solely for purposes of relief ( Relief Defendants ). The Commission is seeking temporary and permanent injunctive relief against Trinity USA and Sers, the appointment of a Temporary Receiver to operate and manage Trinity USA, and disgorgement of proceeds of securities sales from all defendants, as well as civil penalties from Trinity USA and Sers. The Commission's Complaint alleged that, from mid 1996 to the present, Trinity USA and Sers have violated Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, as well as Rule 10b-5 thereunder, through the fraudulent sale of approximately $11 million of Trinity USA securities to at least 250 investors residing in at least 13 states. In addition, the Complaint alleges that Sers violated the same provisions when he sold, on his own behalf and on behalf of the Relief Defendants, at least $5.8 million of Trinity USA securities by means of the Bulletin Board trading system of the National Association of Securities Dealers; and an additional 7.8 million shares through unlicensed salesmen. According to the Complaint, Trinity USA, a Brownwood, Texas oil and gas company, and Sers, have misrepresented to investors the financial condition of Trinity USA; the title to and conditions surrounding certain oil and gas drilling rights located near Cali, Colombia; the performance of two exploratory gas wells and the gas reserves claimed to be found at the drilling location; and efforts of Trinity USA to become a reporting company. Trinity USA and Sers have failed to disclose, the Complaint alleges, the actual number of shares of Trinity USA issued and outstanding, the issuance to Sers and the Relief Defendants of millions of shares of the company for little, if any, consideration; or the use of at least $1 million of Trinity USA funds for the personal benefit of Sers. On November 6, 1997, the Commission suspended trading in the securities of Trinity USA for a single ten day period. Among the representations made by Trinity USA, alleged in the Complaint to be false and misleading, is the claim, made in a press release issued on November 14, 1997, that "the company will continue, as it has in the past, to disclose accurate, material information to shareholders and other interested parties as soon as it becomes available. ======END OF PAGE 1======