Neo-Nazi Leader Pleads Guilty to Plotting Children’s Attack in NYC

New York, NY — The leader of an Eastern European neo-Nazi group, Michail Chkhikvishvili, pleaded guilty on Monday in Brooklyn federal court to charges of trying to recruit individuals for violent attacks against Jews and racial minorities.

Chkhikvishvishvili, 22, also known by his nickname “Commander Butcher,” faces a potential sentence of up to 18 years in prison. The authorities say he led the Maniac Murder Cult, which promotes a violent ideology aimed at instigating a racial and religious war.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Chkhikvishvili attempted to recruit people to carry out an attack on New Year’s Eve in 2023, plotting to dress up as Santa Claus and distribute poisoned candy to children in New York City.

In July 2024, while in Moldova, Chkhikvishvili was arrested and extradited to the United States in May 2025. Prosecutors claim he encouraged violent acts through Telegram channels and authored a manifesto titled “Hater’s Handbook,” which has inspired real-life killings, including a school shooting in Nashville earlier this year.

Documents filed by prosecutors indicate that Chkhikvishvishvili bragged about attacking an elderly Jewish man and had plans to poison children attending Jewish schools in Brooklyn. He communicated these violent instructions to an undercover FBI agent, emphasizing the need for disguises and meticulous planning for such attacks.

His plots also included targeting homeless individuals, indicating he believed their lives would be disregarded by the government.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. condemned Chkhikvishvili’s actions, stating he admitted to recruiting others to commit heinous acts of violence against vulnerable communities.

Chkhikvishvishvili’s guilty plea marks a significant step in the fight against domestic extremism, and federal officials continue to emphasize the persistent threat posed by violent hate groups.