Neo-Nazi leader confesses to planning hate crimes in NYC, including disguising as Santa to poison minority children.
A 22-year-old man identified as Michael Chkhikvishvili, a Georgian national and self-proclaimed leader of a neo-Nazi group known as the “Maniac Murder Cult,” pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn court on Monday to charges related to a disturbing murder plot. Chkhikvishvili admitted to orchestrating a plan to disguise himself as Santa Claus and distribute poisoned candy to minority children on New Year’s Eve, an act prosecutors described as both atrocious and premeditated.
Chkhikvishvili, who operated under the moniker “Commander Butcher,” was apprehended last year after attempting to recruit an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent to carry out various violent crimes, including murder, arson, and bombing attacks. Following his guilty plea to soliciting violent felonies and disseminating bomb-making information, he faces a potential prison sentence ranging from 14 to 17 and a half years. His sentencing is scheduled for March 9, 2025.
The Maniac Murder Cult, which Chkhikvishvili leads, has been classified by authorities as adhering to an accelerationist ideology that endorses extreme violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups deemed “undesirable.” According to a criminal complaint, Chkhikvishvili leveraged internet platforms to communicate with others, actively promoting violent hate crimes.
During his court appearance, Chkhikvishvili acknowledged his intentions and expressed remorse for the communities affected by his actions. He recounted his communications with an undercover agent, which began in September 2024, where he described his Santa Claus plot as seeking to commit an act that would surpass the notoriety of Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 mass murder in Norway.
The court documents also reveal additional chilling threats made by Chkhikvishvili. He purportedly suggested alternative targets for the planned attack, including Jewish schools. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella condemned Chkhikvishvili’s actions, asserting that his recruitment efforts had real-world consequences, including inspiring a school shooting earlier this year in Nashville and an assault on a mosque in Turkey. The latter incident involved an attacker linked directly to Chkhikvishvili’s manifesto, “Haters Handbook,” indicating a dangerous proliferation of his ideologies.
Prosecutors have emphasized the extensive communications between Chkhikvishvili and other extremist figures, including previous associates of his group who have faced similar legal repercussions for inciting violence. The case underscores the persistent threat posed by radical hate groups and the urgent need for law enforcement agencies to monitor and counter such ideologies proactively.
