Who is Mikael Chikveshvili? Neo-Nazi leader sentenced to 15 years in prison for serving poisoned candy to New York Jewish children

In 2025, Chikovishvili, known as the “Butcher Commander” plead guilty Inciting hate crimes and distributing instructions to make bombs and ricin. He appeared in federal court on Wednesday, May 13. brooklyn,New York. U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon sentenced both counts to run concurrently to 180 months in prison.

“Chikovishvili was the leader of a ‘murderous cult’ who repeatedly called for the murder of innocent civilians, including children, and conspired to attack and terrorize Jewish communities and minorities in the United States,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “For example, Chikovishvili attempted to recruit a so-called associate to dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisonous candy to minority children. Today’s sentencing removes the monster from our streets and protects our communities, at least for a time.”

“As the leader of the white supremacist organization ‘Murder Spree,’ this defendant concocted plans to incite hatred, cause mass casualties, and incite others to carry out attacks based on his vile rhetoric,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “This violent extremist’s intent was clear: to harm and kill as many Jewish and racial groups as possible. But, thanks to the work of our NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, he is now off our streets and held accountable for his hate crimes.”

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The murder spree cult follows neo-Nazi ideology and promotes violence against minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems “undesirable.” Chikovishvili is known for distributing a manifesto titled “The Hater’s Handbook” to MKY members and others, which encouraged others to commit acts of mass violence, including school shootings. It also included Chikovishvili’s claim that he “murdered for white people.”

“Chikovishvili began planning a mass casualty attack in New York City on New Year’s Eve. The plan involved having a man dress up as Santa Claus and hand out poison-laced candy to minorities. In January 2024, the plan evolved and Chikovishvili specifically directed the University of California to drop poison on Jewish communities, Jewish schools and Jewish children in Brooklyn. Chikovishvili sent detailed manuals on making and mixing deadly poisons and toxic gases, including ricin,” the DOJ said.

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Chikovishvili has also been accused of instigating numerous attacks and killings around the world. For example, in January last year, a 17-year-old student killed one person, injured another and then committed suicide at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He claimed that he was acting on behalf of a “murderous cult.” Chikovishvili was mentioned in the attacker’s manifesto.

In August 2024, a man stabbed five people live outside a mosque in Eskisehir, Türkiye. He was wearing a tactical vest with a swastika on it. The U.S. Justice Department said the attacker’s manifesto “clearly mentioned Chikovishvili and his violent rhetoric.” The attackers also distributed links to the “Hater’s Handbook” and other violent propaganda before carrying out their attacks.