The leader of an Eastern European neo-Nazi group, Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as ‘Commander Butcher,’ pleaded guilty in New York to planning a violent attack against Jewish communities and racial minorities, including distributing poisoned candy to children and sharing bomb-making instructions. His organization, the Maniac Murder Cult, advocated for racial and religious war through extreme violence, and Chkhikvishvili was extradited from Moldova to the U.S. in May. The FBI and prosecutors condemned his actions as a direct threat to public safety and minority communities. Federal officials stated that Chkhikvishvili led the Maniac Murder Cult, an extremist group promoting violence to spark a racial and religious war. He was extradited from Moldova to the Eastern District of New York in May.
U.S. prosecutors revealed that Chkhikvishvili began planning attacks in Brooklyn in June 2022, using the encrypted app Telegram to recruit members and direct violent activities. His manifesto, the ‘Hater’s Handbook,’ encouraged mass violence and included detailed instructions for school shootings. Chkhikvishvili was in contact with an undercover FBI agent, who he frequently solicited to carry out bombings and arson against minorities and Jewish communities. His plot to poison children with candy during the New Year’s Eve celebration and target Jewish schools and communities in Brooklyn was devised in November and January 2023, respectively. He sent detailed instructions for creating lethal toxins, including ricin, to the undercover agent.
Federal prosecutors also highlighted the real-world impact of his rhetoric, as his ideological influence has allegedly inspired recent attacks. In January 2025, a 17-year-old gunman at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, opened fire, killing one student and injuring another before shooting himself. The attacker stated he acted on behalf of the Maniac Murder Cult and other groups. In August 2024, an individual in Eskisehir, Turkey, livestreamed himself stabbing several people outside a mosque while wearing a vest with Nazi symbols. His manifesto cited Chkhikvili and linked to the ‘Hater’s Handbook’ and other extremist materials. Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison for his crimes. His actions have prompted ongoing concerns about the spread of extremist ideologies online and their potential to incite real-world violence.
The FBI’s Director, Kash Patel, emphasized the danger posed by Chkhikvishvili’s actions, stating that his guilty plea confirms a ‘horrific plot’ targeting Jewish and minority communities, including the plan to poison children with candy during the holidays. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of extremist groups and the need for vigilance in countering hate-driven violence.