Extremism & Public Safety

Michail Chkhikvishvili, 22, a Georgian national and leader of the 'Maniac Murder Cult,' pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to soliciting hate crimes and sharing bomb and ricin instructions, including a plan to dress as Santa and hand out poison-laced candy on New Year’s in New York City. Extradited from Moldova in May, he used Telegram to recruit and directed an undercover FBI employee to carry out bombings and arsons targeting Jewish and minority communities; he faces up to 40 years in prison, according to DOJ and the FBI.