A federal judge in New York has sentenced Michail Chkhikvishvili, known online as “Commander Butcher,” to 15 years in prison for soliciting hate crimes and promoting violent extremist attacks targeting Jewish communities and minorities in the United States.
The 22-year-old Georgian national pleaded guilty last year to distributing instructions for making explosives and ricin, a highly toxic poison, as part of a broader campaign of extremist violence linked to the neo-Nazi group Maniac Murder Cult.
During sentencing in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon imposed concurrent 180-month prison sentences on two federal charges.
“The defendant is not sentenced because of his warped views,” Amon said in court. “He is being sentenced for his calls to action.”
Federal prosecutors described Chkhikvishvili as a leader of the extremist organization, which authorities say promotes racially motivated violence and operates across Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and other countries.
According to court documents, Chkhikvishvili used encrypted messaging platforms, including Telegram, to encourage followers to carry out violent attacks, including bombings, school shootings, and poisonings. Prosecutors said he distributed an extremist manifesto known as the “Hater’s Handbook,” which promoted acts of terror against minorities and Jewish communities.
One of the most alarming plots involved a plan to distribute poisoned candy to children while dressed as Santa Claus during New Year’s celebrations in New York City. Prosecutors later said the scheme evolved into plans targeting children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn.
Authorities said Chkhikvishvili began communicating in 2023 with an undercover FBI agent posing as a potential recruit to the extremist organization. During those conversations, prosecutors said he encouraged violent attacks ranging from murder to bombings and poisonings.
He was arrested in 2024 and extradited to the United States in 2025 to face federal charges.
Federal officials also alleged that the extremist propaganda promoted by Chkhikvishvili inspired multiple violent incidents worldwide, including the 2025 school shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Prosecutors said the gunman claimed allegiance to the Maniac Murder Cult.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Reich called the case “a sustained and deliberate solicitation of violence,” adding that extremists who promote violence online will be held accountable.
Defense attorney Zachary Taylor argued for a reduced sentence, stating that his client had been radicalized as a teenager while struggling with bullying and depression. Chkhikvishvili addressed the court during sentencing, acknowledging responsibility for his actions and expressing regret for the harm caused.