NEW YORK, NY – A 22-year-old Georgian national known as the leader of an internationally racially motivated violent extremist group has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a mass casualty attack in New York City, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Michail Chkhikvishvili admitted to soliciting hate crimes and distributing instructions for making bombs and ricin at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Chkhikvishvili planned a horrific attack targeting racial minorities in November 2023. His scheme involved dressing up as Santa Claus on New Year’s Eve and distributing candy laced with poison to minority children in New York City.
The investigation revealed that Chkhikvishvili had solicited an undercover FBI employee to commit violent crimes, including bombings and arson designed to harm racial minorities. Prosecutors say multiple attacks and killings resulted from Chkhikvishvili’s encouragement of violence across different incidents.
As leader of the extremist organization, Chkhikvishvili actively recruited others to carry out violent acts in furtherance of his racially motivated ideology. The group operated internationally, spreading hatred and violence across multiple countries.
Federal authorities worked with international partners to track Chkhikvishvili’s activities and gather evidence of his criminal conspiracy. The investigation spanned several months before his arrest.
The guilty plea represents a significant victory for law enforcement agencies combating domestic terrorism and hate-motivated violence. The case highlights the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups operating both domestically and internationally.
Chkhikvishvili pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting hate crimes and providing instructions for weapons manufacturing. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The FBI continues to investigate the full extent of the extremist group’s activities and potential co-conspirators. Authorities urge anyone with information about extremist activity to contact law enforcement immediately.
