Georgian National Neo-Nazi Group Leader Sought To Poison Jewish Children In NYC, Feds Say

A neo-nazi group leader is in custody in Georgia after attempting to solicit attacks against Jews and minorities in New York, federal officials say.

Authorities arrested Michail Chkhikvishvili in Chișinău, Moldova, on an Interpol warrant on July 6, 2024. The arrest came after a grand jury in Brooklyn approved charges against Chkhikvishvili for allegedly soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

“As alleged, the defendant sought to recruit others to commit violent attacks and killings in furtherance of his Neo-Nazi ideologies,” said Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “His goal was to spread hatred, fear and destruction by encouraging bombings, arson and even poisoning children, for the purpose of harming racial minorities, the Jewish community and homeless individuals.”

“We will not hesitate to find and prosecute those who threaten the safety and freedoms of all members of our community, including members of minority communities, no matter where in the world these criminals might be hiding,” Peace added.

Authorities sought charges against Chkhikvishvili after the Georgian allegedly approached undercover agents about carrying out bombing, arson, and other attacks against minorities in New York. One alleged scheme specifically targeted Jewish children. The Georgian is accused of asking agents to dress like Santa Clause and travel around New York City passing out candy laced with poison to Jewish children and other minorities.

Chkhikvishvili allegedly drew out a detailed plan for the undercover agents to carry out the attack, including instructions on how to make certain “lethal poisons and gases,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Chkhikvishvili is a gang leader known by a plethora of nicknames, including “Commander Butcher” and “Butcher.” The Georgian heads a gang known as Maniacs Murder Cult. MKY, as the gang is also known, is “an international racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist group,” according to federal prosecutors.

“MKY adheres to a Neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence and violent acts against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems ‘undesirables.’ MKY members share a common goal of challenging social order and governments via terrorism and violent acts that promote fear and chaos,” a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office states.