Neo-Nazi Wanted Dead Kids for Christmas, Say Feds
A 21-year-old man accused of plotting a mass poisoning attack disguised as a holiday gesture has now landed in the U.S., facing serious federal charges. But the road to his arrest — and the chilling details surrounding it — sound more like a thriller novel than real life.
A Cross-Border Hunt Ends in Brooklyn
Michail Chkhikvishvili, a Georgian national who also went by the aliases "Commander Butcher" and "Mishka," was extradited from Moldova to the United States on May 22, 2025. Federal prosecutors say his plans included dressing an individual as Santa Claus to distribute poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities in Brooklyn on New Year's Eve.
Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Moldova in July 2024 after allegedly plotting the attack with someone he believed was a recruit — who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.
That agent's communications with Chkhikvishvili helped expose not just a plot, but a disturbing worldview rooted in extremist ideology.
Who Is 'Commander Butcher'?
Federal authorities describe Chkhikvishvili as a leader of the so-called "Maniac Murder Cult," also known as MKY, a violent white supremacist group with global membership and a dangerous manifesto titled the "Hater's Handbook," according to the Guardian.
The group promotes neo-Nazi accelerationist beliefs aimed at destabilizing society through mass violence. According to the Department of Justice, Chkhikvishvili encouraged recruits to film acts of violence — including arson, murder, and hate crimes — as a form of initiation.
He allegedly told the undercover agent that "(p)oisoning and arson are best options for murder," and suggested planning a mass killing in the United States — one he hoped would surpass the death toll of the 2011 Norway attacks by Anders Breivik, according to the Department of Justice.
Inside the Alleged Plot
The proposed holiday-themed scheme was gruesome: dress up as Santa Claus, hand out chocolate candies laced with poison, and leave them in Jewish schools and communities. Prosecutors say Chkhikvishvili drafted detailed instructions, including how to obtain and prepare toxic substances like ricin.
He also allegedly discussed targeting homeless people, claiming the government wouldn't care "even if they die," according to the Guardian.
Messages recovered from encrypted Telegram chats and court documents reveal he wasn't just talking. He allegedly provided bomb-making instructions and manuals for weaponized gases, and even cited ISIS propaganda while promoting racial violence.
His chilling rhetoric reportedly extended to casual boasts of committing murder in Brooklyn during a 2022 trip.
Global Reach, Local Fears
Chkhikvishvili's ideology appears to have reached far beyond New York. In August 2024, an individual carried out a stabbing attack in Turkey while wearing a Nazi-emblazoned tactical vest and referencing the "Hater's Handbook" in a livestreamed manifesto, according to the Guardian.
Chkhikvishvili's extradition comes amid growing concerns over international extremist networks operating in digital shadows. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the case "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," according to the Guardian.
What Happens Next?
Chkhikvishvili has pleaded not guilty. His attorney has requested a psychiatric evaluation and placement on suicide watch while he remains in custody awaiting trial in Brooklyn federal court.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years for soliciting violent hate crimes, another 20 for distributing bomb-making and poison-use information, and additional time for conspiracy and threatening communications.
The case has already ignited debate about the reach of extremist propaganda and how digital anonymity has reshaped the face of modern terrorism. It's also a haunting reminder that holiday cheer can, under the wrong hands, be twisted into something truly sinister.
References: Georgian man extradited to US to face charges over poison-candy terror plot | Georgian National Extradited from Moldova to Face Charges for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Planning Mass Casualty Attack in New York City | 'Maniac Murder Cult' plotted to have person in Santa costume poison kids in New York City, officials say
