BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A Rochester-based property owner could face jail time if he doesn't sell or demolish several rundown Buffalo properties by August.

This decision came after Julian Russotto's latest stint in housing court, Thursday.

According to the judge in this case, if Russotto doesn't meet those goals, the case will likely go to trial.

The case was brought before the housing court last year, after years of back and forth between Russotto and the city of Buffalo.

"It is not a threat, I mean it. I feel, especially out of town landlords and people who don't live in these neighborhoods, when they simply allow these to go down and hope someone will come and pay them a million dollars for them, they should go to jail, period," said Buffalo Common Council President, Darius Pridgen.

Last month, Russotto managed to auction off two his homes, but the sales are being held up due to liens and unpaid taxes.

Pridgen says this is just the latest step in an ongoing housing crackdown in Buffalo.

"Now we're working on the top ten list of derelict properties in the city of Buffalo, Ellicott District and we're gonna go after these landlords who are leaving these neighborhoods in deplorable conditions,” said Pridgen.

We reached out to Russotto for comment, but haven't heard back.