For Immediate Release                                  99-70

         SEC Charges 11 Individuals With Insider Trading

 U.S. Attorney Also Indicts Former Director of Koo Koo Roo, Inc.

     Los Angeles, CA, June 23, 1999 -- The Securities and
Exchange Commission and the United States Attorney for the
Central District of California announced today the filing of four
civil actions against 11 defendants, including one attorney, and
one criminal action, for illegal insider trading.  The defendants
traded in the securities of three California companies,
Trimedyne, Inc., Koo Koo Roo, Inc. and Bio-Dental Technologies
Corp., and realized profits in excess of $300,000.

     Valerie Caproni, the Regional Director for the Commission's
Pacific Regional Office, stated, "These actions underscore the
Commission's continued commitment to prosecuting parties who
unlawfully trade on inside information.  We intend to continue to
work closely with the criminal authorities in cases such as these
where professionals and members of corporate boards of directors
abuse their positions to obtain an unfair advantage in the
market.  Those who would engage in such conduct are put on notice
that they will be subject to both civil sanctions and criminal
prosecution when circumstances warrant."

     Alejandro Mayorkas, the United States Attorney for the
Central District of California, stated, "We are placing increased
emphasis on the prosecution of insider trading cases in order to
ensure that the public is able to conduct business in a
securities market that is fair and equally accessible to all.
Our increased efforts come at an opportune time, when the
Commission's office here is led by newly appointed Regional
Director Valerie Caproni, an individual with tremendous criminal
prosecution experience who shares our vision and our goal to put
an end to abuses in the securities market."

     In the first action, the Commission has charged Raymond
Kolts, a Glendale, California attorney, for insider trading in
the securities of Trimedyne, Inc., an Irvine, California company
that manufactures medical devices.  According to the Commission's
complaint, Kolts, while representing Trimedyne in a civil
lawsuit, learned that the FDA had given approval to Trimedyne to
market its medical laser for treatment of enlarged prostate.
Kolts also learned at that time that Trimedyne planned to
announce publicly the FDA clearance the following week.  Before
Trimedyne publicly announced this approval, Kolts purchased 2,500
Trimedyne shares, realizing $30,000 in insider trading profits.
Kolts is charged with securities fraud and the Commission is
seeking an injunction against violations, disgorgement of the
insider trading profits, and civil penalties of up to three times
the trading profit.  Securities and Exchange Commission v.
Raymond G. Kolts, No. CV 99-06353 ER (RZx) (C.D. Cal.).

     In a related action, the Commission sued three other
defendants for insider trading in Trimedyne stock.  The
Commission alleges that Michelle Nguyen, Trimedyne's controller,
used inside information to purchase 4,100 Trimedyne shares before
the public announcement of the FDA approval, realizing insider
trading profits of $42,000.  The Commission further alleges that
Nguyen tipped her sister, Lisa Nguyen, and brother, Hao Vu, who
used the inside information to purchase 8,966 Trimedyne shares,
realizing $41,000 in insider trading profits.  The Commission has
charged the defendants with securities fraud and is seeking an
injunction against future violations, disgorgement of the insider
trading profits, and civil penalties of up to three times their
trading profit.  Securities and Exchange Commission v. Michelle
Nguyen, Lisa Nguyen, and Hao Vu, No. SACV 99-830 AHS (ANx) (C.D.
Cal.).

     The next actions focus on insider trading by a director of
Koo Koo Roo, Inc.,  a restaurant chain based in Southern
California.  According to the indictment and the Commission's
complaint, in March 1998, Donald Wohl, then a Koo Koo Roo
director, learned that the company planned to appoint Lee Iacocca
as acting chairman of the board.  Wohl used that nonpublic
information to purchase 50,000 Koo Koo Roo shares for the
accounts of three family members and two business associates,
ultimately realizing $65,000 in insider trading profits.  Wohl
faces up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 if
convicted on the criminal charges.  Wohl settled the Commission's
action by agreeing to be enjoined from engaging in future fraud
violations and from providing investment advice in violation of a
previous Commission order barring him from the securities
industry.  He will be ordered to pay a total of $133,000 in
disgorgement of trading profits, prejudgment interest, and civil
penalties in connection with that settlement.  Securities and
Exchange Commission v. Donald B. Wohl, No. CV 99-06354 DDP (SHx)
(C.D. Cal.); United States of America v. Donald B. Wohl, No.
_______ (C.D. Cal.).

     Finally, the Commission has sued six defendants for
unlawfully trading in the stock of Bio-Dental Technologies Corp.
before the public announcement that it would be acquired by Zila,
Inc.  Bio-Dental was a Northern California corporation that
manufactured professional dental supplies.  The Commission
alleges that Rocco Anselmo, a Zila executive, used his advance
knowledge of the acquisition in purchasing 10,000 Bio-Dental
shares, realizing $23,000 in profits.  Anselmo also tipped three
friends to the pending merger, James Rammelt, Ivan Kron, and
Donald Italia, who purchased a total of 31,200 Bio-Dental shares,
realizing $67,000 in insider trading profits.  The Commission
also sued two Zila consultants, William Sklar and John Manion,
who obtained advance knowledge of the acquisition through their
work for Zila.  According to the complaint, Sklar and Manion used
their inside information to purchase Bio-Dental stock in advance
of the public announcement.  Sklar purchased 9,000 Bio-Dental
shares and realized profits of $20,000.  Manion purchased 13,000
shares and realized $28,000 in profits.  Anselmo, Rammelt, Kron,
Italia, and Sklar have settled with the Commission by agreeing to
be enjoined from engaging in future securities fraud and to pay a
total of $250,000 in disgorgement of trading profits, prejudgment
interest, and civil penalties.  The Commission is seeking against
Manion an injunction against future violations, disgorgement of
the insider trading profits, and civil penalties of up to three
times his trading profit.  Securities and Exchange Commission v.
John R. Manion, Rocco J. Anselmo, James Rammelt, Ivan Kron,
Donald S. Italia, and William E. Sklar, No. CIV 99-1103 PHX (ROS)
(D. Ariz.).

     The Commission acknowledges the assistance provided by NASDR
Inc.

     For further information, please contact Sandra J. Harris,
Associate Regional Director, Enforcement, SEC at (323) 965-3962
and Assistant United States Attorney Paul Watford at (213) 894-
2417.

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