Federal prosecutors have secured a guilty plea from Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 22-year-old Georgian national and self-proclaimed neo-Nazi leader known as "Commander Butcher," who allegedly orchestrated a sinister plot to wreak havoc on New York City's minority communities during the holiday season.
According to court documents, Chkhikvishvili began making plans with an undercover FBI agent in September 2023, where he expressed a desire to join a neo-Nazi organization by engaging in violent acts such as brutal beatings and murders. The plot took a disturbing turn when Chkhikvishvili proposed distributing poisoned candy to minority children dressed as Santa Claus during the holiday season.
Prosecutors claim that Chkhikvishvili's plan involved supplying the tainted product to Jewish schools, further underscoring his extremist ideology and willingness to target vulnerable communities. The chilling proposal was shared with the undercover agent through an encrypted messaging app.
Chkhikvishvili pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting violent hate crimes against racial minorities and Jewish people, admitting that he would "like to apologize" to these affected communities. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison when sentenced in March, with prosecutors recommending a sentence between 14 and 17 years.
The Maniac Murder Cult neo-Nazi organization has been linked to multiple violent attacks worldwide, including the stabbing of approximately five people outside a mosque in Turkey in August 2024, who reportedly referenced Chkhikvishvili's group's "Hater's Handbook."
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups and the importance of vigilance in preventing hate crimes.
According to court documents, Chkhikvishvili began making plans with an undercover FBI agent in September 2023, where he expressed a desire to join a neo-Nazi organization by engaging in violent acts such as brutal beatings and murders. The plot took a disturbing turn when Chkhikvishvili proposed distributing poisoned candy to minority children dressed as Santa Claus during the holiday season.
Prosecutors claim that Chkhikvishvili's plan involved supplying the tainted product to Jewish schools, further underscoring his extremist ideology and willingness to target vulnerable communities. The chilling proposal was shared with the undercover agent through an encrypted messaging app.
Chkhikvishvili pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting violent hate crimes against racial minorities and Jewish people, admitting that he would "like to apologize" to these affected communities. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison when sentenced in March, with prosecutors recommending a sentence between 14 and 17 years.
The Maniac Murder Cult neo-Nazi organization has been linked to multiple violent attacks worldwide, including the stabbing of approximately five people outside a mosque in Turkey in August 2024, who reportedly referenced Chkhikvishvili's group's "Hater's Handbook."
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups and the importance of vigilance in preventing hate crimes.