U.S. SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION

LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 17790 / October 17, 2002

   COMMISSION OBTAINS DEFAULT JUDGMENTS AGAINST MAX TANNER, DENNIS EVANS,
   AND MICHAEL BOSTON IN MARKET MANIPULATION SCHEME

   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION V. TANNER, ET AL., 02-CIV-0306
   (S.D.N.Y.)

   The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") announced that
   the Honorable William H. Pauley, United States District Judge for the
   Southern District of New York, entered Default Judgments against
   Dennis Evans ("Evans") on July 29, 2002, Max C. Tanner ("Tanner") on
   August 12, 2002, and Michael Boston ("Boston") on October 10 , 2002 in
   connection with a market manipulation scheme.

   The Commission's Complaint alleges that Tanner, Evans, Boston, and
   others engaged in a scheme to manipulate the stock price of Maid Aide,
   Inc. ("MDAN"), a publicly traded shell company. To facilitate the
   scheme, the defendants gained control of MDAN, set up two boiler room
   operations, and directed unlicensed brokers to sell unregistered stock
   at artificially inflated prices, using high-pressure sales tactics, in
   exchange for undisclosed kickbacks. Through this scheme, the
   defendants defrauded investors out of more than $3.7 million.

   The judgments enjoin Tanner, Evans, and Boston from future violations
   of Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933
   ("Securities Act"), Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
   1934 ("Exchange Act"), and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. In
   addition, the Court ordered Tanner to pay $2,145,167.65 in
   disgorgement, $616,149.47 in prejudgment interest, and a $350,000
   civil penalty. Evans must pay $119,396.67 in disgorgement, $37,250.56
   in prejudgment interest, and a $126,500 civil penalty. Boston must pay
   $150,000 in disgorgement, $53,745.49 in prejudgment interest, and a
   $175,000 civil penalty. Tanner and Evans also are barred from ever
   serving as an officer or director of a public company.

   In November 2001, Tanner and Evans were convicted by a jury in a
   related criminal case. Tanner was convicted of 37 counts of securities
   fraud, mail and wire fraud, tax fraud, and money laundering. Evans was
   convicted of securities fraud.

   See also Litigation Releases (January 14, 2002), (August 13, 2002),
   and (September 11, 2002).


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