HTN: Buffalo Man Sentenced in Fatal Border Chase

A Buffalo man serving a prison term in Canada for killing a woman during a high speed chase across the border has been sentenced on carjacking charges from that incident. Police say 33-year-old Cornelius Cross was given a 15 year sentence for stealing a car in Buffalo which led to the fatal accident in 2004. Authorities say Cross stole the car and was being chased by police. That's when he ditched the car, stole a cable television van and raced across the Rainbow Bridge killing a woman in a crash on the Canadian side. Cross still has five years left on his Canadian sentence for the death. He will serve 15 years for the thefts of the van and car when he arrives back in the U.S in 2014.

HTN: 1975 Cold Case Cracked

The man accused of killing a young Buffalo girl back in 1975 has been indicted. Prosecutors say 55-year-old Bernard Thomas faces charges of intentional murder and two counts of murder while committing sex crimes. Authorities say Thomas sexually assaulted 19-year-old Michelle Dixon before shooting her to death 34 years ago. Thomas entered a not guilty plea Tuesday and his lawyer says he will try to work out a plea deal. Cops say they cracked the case when the victim's family called to inquire if the case was reopened. That's when the Cold Case Squad ran a DNA sample and Thomas came up a match. Police say he had always been the prime suspect. Thomas' rap sheet includes 56 arrests. He was ordered held without bail.

HTN: Debt Collector Busted

A Buffalo-based collection agency, whose employees allegedly posed as police officers, has been padlocked and the owner arrested. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo accused several agencies run by Tobias Boyland of shady practices. The 43-year-old Boyland, already a convicted felon, was arrested yesterday at his home. Cuomo's office has brought civil suits against Boyland and three of his employees, all of whom have criminal records. The three were just a few of about 30 people operating companies under nine names at four local offices.

HTN: Amherst Father Accused of Threatening Toddler

Officers tasered a suspect allegedly threatening a baby with a knife early Thursday morning. Police say they were called to an apartment on Travers Circle about four in the morning on the report of a woman being beaten by her boyfriend. Cops say they found 19-year-old Jeffrey Hernandez of North Tonawanda holding the woman's six-month old baby at knifepoint. One of the officers tasered Hernandez as he was putting the knife to the baby's throat. Hernandez was arrested after dropping the baby. He faces charges of attempted murder and assault. Police say officers did not want to fire bullets fearing the baby my get hit. The tasers were just implemented a few months ago.

HTN: Teen's Body Identified

Buffalo police have identified the body found at a canoe launch on the Buffalo River Tuesday in the area of Ohio and South Streets. The body was identified as 15-year-old Kowat Rual of Buffalo. He was discovered nude, and autopsy reports indicate he died of strangulation and blunt force trauma. Rual was a student at Lafayette High School. Anyone with information on the case should call TIPCALL, 847-2255.

HTN: Rochester Teens Jailed in Beating Death

Two Rochester teens remain in jail, charged with the murder of a Lockport group home counselor. Twenty-four-year-old Renee Greco was bludgeoned to death in the group home where she worked Monday night. Her family said she had been in fear for her safety since some boys at the home became angry with her and threatened her. Investigators believe Anthony Allen and Robert Thousand killed Greco, the only staffer on duty at the time, Monday night in order to cover up a weekend burglary. A wake for Greco will be held tomorrow , and there will be a prayer ceremony Saturday.

HTN: Ponzi Schemer Sentenced

Richard Piccoli has pleaded guilty to federal charges after being accused of running a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. Prosecutors say the 82-year-old Amherst man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. Piccoli admitted to felony mail fraud and tax fraud charges in federal court on Monday. He could receive up to 25 years behind bars when sentenced in October.

HTN: Hassan Trial Set for January

The trial for a husband who allegedly beheaded his wife at their Orchard Park television studio will begin in January. An Erie County judge has set January 19th for jury selection to begin. Prosecutors accuse 44-year-old Muzzammil Hassan of killing his estranged wife on February 12th. Pre-trial hearings continue in August. Hassan and his wife, 37-year-old Aasiya Zubair ran a Muslim-oriented television network called Bridges TV.

HTN: Cameras Catch Murder Suspect

Buffalo police detectives are crediting surveillance cameras near a murder scene for helping nab a suspect. Recently-graduated UB student Javon Jackson was shot to death just hours after receiving his electrical engineering degree. 20-year-old DaMario Cordelius of Amherst has been charged with second-degree murder. Jackson lived with 21-year-old Jesse Garnett, who was murdered last week in Amherst, though police don't think the incidents are connected.

HTN: Arrest in 34-year Cold Case

Buffalo police have made an arrest in a 34 year old murder case. Authorities say 55-year-old Bernard Thomas is responsible for the 1975 killing of 19-year-old Michelle Dixon. Detectives say they were able to use DNA evidence to revive the case and make the arrest. The announcement was made on the 34-year-anniversary of the death dating back to May 20th, 1975. Authorities say Dixon was found shot to death in her bed . Mayor Byron Brown says the family has been suffering and wondering in pain for 34 years. Police say Thomas was a friend of Dixon's boyfriend at the time, but the motive has not been revealed.

HTN: UB Grad May Have Been Innocent Victim

Buffalo police say the University of Buffalo graduate gunned down over the weekend was likely an innocent victim. Investigators are probing allegations that a confrontation may have sparked the shooting. Police say 23-year-old Javon Jackson has nothing in his past that would serve as a motive for the murder. Authorities are looking into a possible dispute minutes before the shooting in the Sangria Lounge on Main Street, but the owner says he saw no such argument in the early morning hours on Sunday. Police say video tape evidence from cameras in the area will be useful and are urging any witnesses to come forward.

Hometown News: UB Grad Gunned Down

A family's celebration of their child receiving a college degree turned to sadness after he was gunned down in cold blood hours later near the University of Buffalo campus. Twenty-three-year-old Javon Jackson, a native of the Bronx, was shot and killed as he was crossing a street in the University Heights section around 3 a.m. Sunday. Buffalo Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards says the gunman was with three other men. Detectives believe Jackson may have been involved in a bar fight shortly before the shooting took place. Buffalo police are asking for the public's help in finding the killer. Jackson just received his engineering degree on Saturday and was out with friends when he was gunned down.

HTN: Body Found in Riverside

A body was found Wednesday night in the Buffalo neighborhood of Riverside. Police say the death could be the result of a domestic dispute. Police say they have preliminary identification of the body, but will only describe it as "male" until an identity has been confirmed. The body, which had been shot and stabbed, was found in a field on Isabelle Street near the Schafer Village Apartments. Anyone with information should call the Buffalo Police Confidential Tip Line at 847-2255.

HTN: Accused Ponzi Schemer Could Get Prison

The accused 82-year-old Ponzi-schemer from Amherst could likely see prison time under a plea deal in the works. Federal prosecutors say they could have a deal in place within the next two months for Richard Piccoli. He is accused of ripping off millions of dollars from investors. Authorities estimate that Piccoli raked in 17-million dollars over a five year period. Investigators say Piccoli advertised in religious publications and many of the victims include priests and church groups. Federal prosecutors say despite Piccoli's age prison time under any plea deal is likely.

HTN: Buffalo Crime Stats On-Line

If the Buffalo Common Council gets its way, you could have online access to neighborhood crime stats. The measure has been talked about for a year and Council members say they'd like to push for it to become reality. If given the green light, residents would be able to log on to "crime reports-dot-com" and view data on a map.

HTN: Former Teacher Sentenced in Rape Case

The former South Buffalo Charter School teacher charged in a statutory rape case is off to prison for four years. 30-year-old Cara Dickey admitted to a relationship with a former student last summer. Dickey's defense attorney told the judge she is suffering psychological problems which blurred her ability to decipher right from wrong. In March, Dickey pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree rape of an underaged victim.

Hometown News: Local Teen Charged in Beating

A local high school student who has been charged with the brutal beating of a classmate has a rap-sheet that includes arson. Seventeen-year-old Curtis Byers assaulted Michael Lang at Williamsville South High School last month. Byers was arrested for felony assault and will be back in court in May. He also admitted to setting a Wende Street fire that injured a Buffalo firefighter two years ago. The firefighter lost a leg and fractured his skull in the incident. Byers received just 100 hours of community service for the fire. He committed another felony a short time later, for which he received just five years probation after being considered a "youthful offender."

HTN: Lackawanna Cold Case Reopened

A 30-year-old cold-case murder may finally be on its way to becoming solved. Monday was the 30th anniversary of the stabbing death of 21-year-old Patricia Rodriguez in Lackawanna. Rodriguez was stabbed 108 times on April 13th, 1979 and was left for dead on top of a grave at the Holy Cross Cemetery. Police now have new forensic evidence that may crack the case. DNA evidence has been resubmitted to the department's evidence lab. Residents are urged to call the Lackawanna Police Department at 822-4900 if they think they know anything.

HTN: City Laptop Taken

A laptop computer owned by the City of Buffalo was among items taken by a burglar early Monday morning. Police the bandit also made off with 15-thousand dollars worth of jewelry, 500-dollars worth of coins, and electronic equipment. The Vincennes Street break-in happened sometime between midnight and eight AM Monday morning. Investigators say the prowler got in through an unlocked front window. It's not known whether the city laptop contains any sensitive data.

HTN: No Plea Deal in Niagara Falls Murder

Prosecutors in Niagara County say a plea deal is out of the question for a Niagara Falls man accused of killing his wife. 26-year-old Robert Johnson will only be allowed to plea to the most serious charge of second-degree murder. Johnson is accused of stabbing his wife, 32-year-old Ahkenya Johnson, 41 times, and allegedly nearly decapitating her in January. The trial is slated to begin June 8th. Johnson's defense lawyer says he will explore the possibility that armed home intruders committed the murder.