The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday that Michail Chkhikvishvili, a leader of the extremist Maniac Murder Cult, pleaded guilty to sending instructions to make poison and bombs, as well as soliciting hate crimes, after he was extradited to the United States in May.
A citizen of Georgia, the Eastern European nation bordering Russia, Turkey, and Armenia, the DOJ said in a press release that Chkhikvishvili distributed a manifesto as early as 2021. He later traveled to the United States, where the DOJ stated that Chkhikvishvili began recruiting individuals to commit acts of mass violence using the encrypted messaging application Telegram.
The DOJ identified at least two instances of Chkhikvishvili (pictured above) successfully inspiring violent acts, including the attack on Antioch High School committed in January by Solomon Henderson, a 17-year-old student.
“Prior to the attack, in an audio recording posted online and attributed to him, the attacker claimed he was taking action on behalf of Maniac Murder Cult and at least one other group,” the DOJ said.
The Tennessee Star obtained the manifesto that has been attributed to Henderson earlier this year, revealing the killer purportedly referenced Chkhikvishvili by name.
“It just takes knowledge, insiders, more power but don’t be like Brian Clyde or Michail Chkhikvishvili,” the killer allegedly wrote. “Wait for an opportunity to present itself. Treat these operations like an assignment or mission.”
Henderson killed one student and injured another before taking his own life. A third student was also injured during the attack, but not from gunfire.
The DOJ highlighted a second incident showing Chkhikvishvili’s influence in Turkey, where an attacker stabbed five people outside a mosque last year.
“A manifesto attributed to the attacker included explicit references to Chkhikvishvili and to violent statements made by him,” the DOJ stated. “Before the attack, the attacker also distributed a link to the Hater’s Handbook, authored by Chkhikvishvili, and other violent propaganda.”
According to the press release, Chkhikvishvili unknowingly made contact with an undercover FBI employee in 2022. Starting in 2023, he began soliciting the undercover agent to commit violence against Jews and racial minorities, including bombings, arson, and a mass casualty attack in New York on December 31, 2023.
“The scheme involved having an individual dress up as Santa Claus and hand out candy laced with poison to racial minorities,” according to the DOJ. “In January, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the [FBI employee] to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn with poison.”
To effectuate the scheme, “Chkhikvishvili sent detailed manuals about creating and mixing lethal poisons and gases, including ricin,” according to the DOJ.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the Maniac Murder Cult as a violent, racist, and nihilistic group.
“The outstanding investigative work in this case saved untold lives and underscores the crucial behind-the-scenes activity of our federal law enforcement agents,” said Bondi. She added, “our vigilance will not waver as we protect our citizens.”
Noting that the cult leader was extradited from Moldova to face American justice, FBI Director Kash Patel added, “This case shows once more that no matter where you are, if you try to harm our citizens the FBI and our partners will find you and bring you to justice.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Which Georgia? Russian or free?