Neo-Nazi Cult Leader Extradited to U.S. Over Alleged Plot Targeting Jewish Children in NY

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Neo-Nazi Cult Leader Extradited to U.S. Over Alleged Plot Targeting Jewish Children in New York

 

A 21-year-old Georgian man accused of plotting a horrific mass poisoning attack targeting Jewish children and racial minorities in New York City has been extradited from Moldova to the United States, where he now faces federal charges. Michail Chkhikvishvili, alleged leader of an international neo-Nazi group known as the Maniac Murder Cult, appeared in a Brooklyn federal court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including the solicitation of hate crimes and attempted mass violence.

 

According to federal prosecutors, Chkhikvishvili—who also used the alias “Commander Butcher”—allegedly instructed an undercover FBI agent to dress as Santa Claus and distribute poisoned candy to Jewish children and minorities, specifically targeting schools in Brooklyn. The plan, officials say, was part of a broader campaign of hate-fueled violence promoted by his extremist group, which embraces a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology that encourages terrorism against those it deems “undesirables.”

 

 

Samuel Gregory, Chkhikvishvili’s attorney, asked the court to place his client under suicide watch and requested a psychiatric evaluation. Gregory did not immediately return calls for comment following the arraignment.

 

Prosecutors detailed how the Maniac Murder Cult has used social media, including encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, to share violent propaganda and plans. The group is known for its manifesto, the “Hater’s Handbook,” which openly incites violence against Jews, racial minorities, and vulnerable communities. Authorities believe that the group’s rhetoric has influenced real-world violence, including a deadly school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this year, where a 16-year-old student was killed.

 

Court documents allege that since 2022, Chkhikvishvili made multiple visits to Brooklyn, during which he claimed to have assaulted an elderly Jewish man. He also reportedly used text messages to encourage other members of his group to commit violent acts. When approached by the undercover agent in 2023, Chkhikvishvili began outlining the plan to distribute poisoned candy, initially proposing a general attack on racial minorities and Jewish children before narrowing the focus to Jewish victims. “Dead Jewish kids,” he allegedly said, would be the most desirable outcome, noting that “Jews are literally everywhere” in Brooklyn.

 

In addition to detailing his plans for mass casualties, Chkhikvishvili reportedly told the undercover agent that the United States offered “big potential because of accessibility to firearms.” He allegedly suggested that homeless individuals might also be viable targets, cynically claiming the government wouldn’t care “even if they die.”

 

The suspect was arrested last July in Moldova and held there until his extradition earlier this week. His capture marks a major development in an ongoing investigation into the online networks and real-world activities of extremist hate groups operating transnationally.

 

Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the case with a stark warning about the evolving nature of domestic and international terrorism. “This case is a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology,” Bondi said in a statement.

 

The Justice Department continues to investigate the full extent of the Maniac Murder Cult’s operations and potential ties to other extremist acts worldwide. Meanwhile, Chkhikvishvili remains in federal custody as legal proceedings continue.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from AP  2025-05-26