Neo-Nazi cult leader ‘Commander Butcher’ admits ‘monstrous’ plot to poison NYC kids with holiday candy

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A neo-Nazi cult chief has pleaded responsible to plotting a New 12 months’s Eve assault in New York Metropolis utilizing a terrorist dressed as Santa Claus allotting poisoned sweet to kids.

Michail Chkhikvishvili, 22, often called “Commander Butcher,” admitted soliciting hate crimes and offering directions on find out how to make bombs and the poison ricin as a part of “monstrous plots and propaganda” main his worldwide Maniac Homicide Cult, in accordance with the feds.

The Georgian neo-Nazi — who additionally impressed mass shooters together with his “Hater’s Handbook” — pleaded responsible in Brooklyn federal court docket on Monday after being hauled again to the US from Moldova to face justice.

Neo-Nazi cult chief Michail Chkhikvishvili has pleaded responsible to plotting a terror assault on minority kids in NYC. U.S. Division of Justice

He “admitted his vile actions, together with recruiting others to commit acts of violence towards Jewish and racial minority kids,” stated US Legal professional Joseph Nocella Jr.

Chkhikvishvili traveled to New York in June 2022 and inspired others to carry out hate crimes on behalf of his Maniac Homicide Cult, speaking largely through the messaging app Telegram, prosecutors stated.

One such twisted scheme concerned somebody dressing as Santa Claus at hand out poisoned sweet to minority kids on New 12 months’s Eve.

He was caught when he solicited a person to hold out bombings and arson assaults concentrating on Jews and different racial minorities, not realizing that he was talking to an undercover FBI agent.

Chkhikvishvili had instructed the secret agent to decorate as Santa and, after handing out sweet, catch a taxi to a pre-determined location to burn the Santa costume and destroy burner telephones.

Chkhikvishvili based the “Maniac Homicide Cult,” and instigated terror assaults the world over. U.S. Division of Justice

Chkhikvishvili additionally solicited the secret agent to commit bombings and arson.

When that plan failed, Chkhikvishvili plotted an identical scheme concentrating on Jewish kids and colleges in Brooklyn in January 2024, in accordance with the FBI.

He despatched detailed manuals about creating and mixing deadly poisons and gases, together with ricin, in accordance with police.

He was extradited to the US from Moldova in Might. USAO EDNY

Since September 2021, Chkhikvishvili had been distributing copies of his “Hater’s Handbook,” through which he instructed cult members on find out how to commit college shootings.

His phrases impressed a minimum of two assaults, together with one within the US, in accordance with police.

In January 2025, a scholar, 17, killed one particular person and wounded one other earlier than taking their very own life in an assault at Antioch Excessive Faculty in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The attacker livestreamed a part of the assault. Previous to the assault, in an audio recording posted on-line and attributed to him, the attacker claimed he was taking motion on behalf of Maniac Homicide Cult and a minimum of one different group,” police stated.

Chkhikvishvili was additionally talked about by title by an attacker who filmed himself stabbing 5 individuals exterior a mosque in Turkey whereas sporting a vest with Nazi symbols.

He was extradited from Moldova to the US in Might 2025 to face the allegations and entered a responsible plea on Monday, the Justice Division confirmed.

Chkhikvishvili now faces as much as 40 years in jail.

“Violent, nihilistic, racist teams like these are an ongoing menace to the American individuals – our vigilance won't waver as we shield our residents,” stated Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi.