Michail Chkhikvishvili, the 22-year-old leader of the Eastern European neo-Nazi group Maniac Murder Cult, pleaded guilty on 19/11 in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, to inciting hate crimes and disseminating information on how to construct bombs and ricin poison.

Chkhikvishvili was arrested in 7/2024 in Moldova and then extradited to the United States in 5/2025. Prosecutors described the Maniac Murder Cult group as an international extremist organization that pursues violent ideologies to incite racial and religious war.

According to the indictment, Chkhikvishvili, from Gruzia, known as "the butcher commander", attempted to recruit members to carry out violent attacks targeting Jewish people and ethnic minority groups via Telegram since 2022.

Michail Chkhikvishvili, leader of the Maniac Murder Cult. Photo: *Formula News*

In late 2023, Chkhikvishvili planned to cause "mass casualties" in New York City during the New Year's celebration. He intended to send someone disguised as Santa Claus to distribute poisoned candy to children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn.

The person Chkhikvishvili contacted was an undercover FBI agent. Prosecutors stated that Chkhikvishvili also shared a detailed manual with this agent on how to prepare poisons and deadly gases.

Prosecutors are recommending an 18-year prison sentence for Chkhikvishvili.

Duc Trung (According to AP)