Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian national and leader of the neo-Nazi group “Maniac Murder Cult,” has been extradited from Moldova to the United States to face multiple felony charges. He is accused of soliciting hate crimes and planning mass violence, including a plot to distribute poisoned candy to Jewish children in New York City.
According to federal prosecutors, Chkhikvishvili, also known as “Commander Butcher,” led the Maniac Murder Cult, an international extremist group promoting violence against racial minorities, Jews, and other groups it deems “undesirables.” The group disseminated its ideology through online platforms and a manifesto titled the “Hater’s Handbook,” which encouraged acts of mass violence and provided instructions for carrying out such attacks.
One of the most disturbing allegations involves Chkhikvishvili’s plan to have an individual dressed as Santa Claus distribute poisoned candy to Jewish children and minorities in Brooklyn. This plot was thwarted when the person he solicited turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.
Chkhikvishvili is also linked to the Antioch High School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, where a 17-year-old student killed one individual and injured another before committing suicide. The attacker reportedly claimed to be acting on behalf of the Maniac Murder Cult.
Arrested in Chișinău, Moldova, in July 2024, Chkhikvishvili was extradited to the U.S. on May 22, 2025. He appeared in federal court in Brooklyn, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney requested a psychiatric evaluation and that he be placed on suicide watch while in custody.
