Michail Chkhikvishvili Charged with Soliciting Hate Crimes, New York City, 2024

Related Federal Cases

Michael Johnson, Abducted Elderly Woman with Dementia, New York Cit… · New York
Edmanuel Victoria Charged with Armored Truck Robbery, New York, 2024 · Delaware
John Doe, Midtown Shooting, New York NY, 2024 · New York
James Johnson, Sexual Abuse of Inmate, New York NY, 2023 · New York
Maximiliano Davila Perez, Conspired to Import Cocaine, New York NY,… · New York

Table of Contents

New Year’s Eve Plot Foiled: Defendant Charged with Distributing Poisoned Candy

BROOKLYN, NY – In a shocking revelation, a Georgian national, Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as ‘Mishka,’ ‘Michael,’ ‘Commander Butcher,’ and ‘Butcher,’ has been charged with soliciting hate crimes and a mass casualty attack in New York City. The defendant allegedly planned to distribute poisoned candy to racial minorities and Jewish children in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve.

According to the indictment, Chkhikvishvili was a leader of the Maniac Murder Cult (MKY), an international racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist group. The MKY adheres to a Neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups deemed ‘undesirables.’

As alleged, Chkhikvishvili recruited others to commit violent acts in furtherance of MKY’s ideologies, including planning and soliciting a mass casualty attack in New York City from an undercover law enforcement employee whom he believed was a prospective MKY recruit.

United States Attorney Breon Peace praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies.

FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis stated, ‘Today’s charges underscore the dedication of our Joint Terrorism Task Force and our partners in New York in safeguarding our nation’s security.’

Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Chișinău, Moldova on July 6, 2024, pursuant to an Interpol Wanted Person Diffusion, which was issued based on a criminal complaint. He is currently facing four counts of soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City.

The case highlights the FBI’s commitment to protecting the American people from threats both domestic and international.