Neo-Nazi leader admits to NYC hate crime plots

Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 1:42 am

Neo-Nazi Leader Pleads Guilty to NYC Hate Crime Plots

A self-proclaimed neo-Nazi leader, Michael Chkhikvishvili, has pleaded guilty to soliciting violent felonies and distributing bomb-making information in a Brooklyn federal court. The 22-year-old, a citizen of Georgia who went by the moniker "Commander Butcher," led the hate group Russian and Ukrainian Maniac Murder Cult (MKY).

Chkhikvishvili admitted to using online platforms to recruit individuals to commit violent hate crimes. He also confessed to disseminating bomb-making instructions. His sentencing is scheduled for March 9th, and he faces a potential prison sentence of 14 to 17-and-a-half years.

The MKY group, which adheres to a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology, promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups it deems undesirable. Court documents revealed Chkhikvishvili's plans, which included a disturbing plot to dress as Santa Claus and distribute poisoned candy to minority children on New Year's Eve. He also suggested targeting Jewish schools during Jewish holidays.

The FBI initiated contact with Chkhikvishvili last September through encrypted internet channels, with an undercover agent posing as a prospective MKY member. Prosecutors highlighted the defendant's role in inspiring real-world violence, citing a January 2025 school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, where the attacker claimed to be acting on behalf of MKY and another group. Furthermore, prosecutors linked Chkhikvishvili to an August 2024 stabbing attack outside a mosque in Turkey, where the assailant referenced Chkhikvishvili's "Haters Handbook" manifesto.

Chkhikvishvili also engaged in extensive communications with Nicholas Welker, another neo-Nazi leader who previously headed the Feuerkrieg Division (FKD). Welker was sentenced to prison last year for online death threats.

BNN's Perspective:

This case underscores the persistent threat of extremist ideologies and the dangers of online radicalization. While the guilty plea is a positive step, it highlights the need for continued vigilance in combating hate speech and preventing acts of violence inspired by such ideologies. Law enforcement and social media platforms must remain proactive in identifying and disrupting these dangerous networks.

Keywords: Neo-Nazi, hate crime, murder plot, Brooklyn, guilty plea, MKY, Commander Butcher, bomb-making, violence, racial minorities, Jewish community, online radicalization, extremist ideology, FBI, Anders Behring Breivik, school shooting, manifesto, Telegram, Feuerkrieg Division, FKD, Nicholas Welker, Haters Handbook

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