New York City
On Thursday in federal court in Brooklyn, Michail Chkhikvishvili, a Georgian national known as “Commander Butcher,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison for soliciting hate crimes and distributing instructions for making bombs and ricin, according to prosecutors.
Federal prosecutors said Chkhikvishvili was a leader of Maniac Murder Cult, an international racially motivated violent extremist organization also known as MKY, MMC and MKU.
Authorities said Chkhikvishvili recruited others to commit violent acts in support of the group’s neo-Nazi ideology, including planning and soliciting a mass-casualty attack in New York City.
Chkhikvishvili was extradited from Moldova to the Eastern District of New York in May 2025 and pleaded guilty in November.
Quick Facts
- Extremist group: Maniac Murder Cult (MKY)
- Prosecutors say group promotes neo-Nazi violence
- Alleged target: Jewish children and minorities in Brooklyn
- Authorities say suspect shared poison-making instructions, including ricin
- FBI undercover operation helped uncover alleged plot
- Suspect extradited with help from Moldova
Federal prosecutors say a neo-Nazi extremist linked to the violent Maniac Murder Cult plotted poison attacks targeting Jewish children and racial minorities in New York City.
Authorities allege Michail Chkhikvishvili distributed extremist propaganda known as the “Hater’s Handbook,” which encouraged school shootings and mass violence.
Investigators said Chkhikvishvili communicated with an undercover FBI employee about bombings, arsons and poison attacks. Prosecutors allege one plan involved a person dressed as Santa Claus distributing poisoned candy in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve.
Federal officials said the alleged scheme later shifted to specifically targeting Jewish schools and Jewish children. Authorities also accused Chkhikvishvili of sending instructions for creating lethal poisons and gases, including ricin.
The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with multiple federal and international agencies, assisted in securing Chkhikvishvili’s arrest and extradition from Moldova.