A Georgian national accused by federal prosecutors of leading a white supremacist group that recruited others to bomb and poison the Jewish community and racial minorities made his initial court appearance in New York on Friday following his extradition from Moldova.

Michail Chkhikvishvili, 21, known as “Commander Butcher,” pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to charges of solicitation of violent felonies (including hate crime acts and transporting an explosive with intent to kill or injure); conspiring to solicit violent felonies; distributing information pertaining to the making and use of explosive devices and ricin poison; and transmitting threatening communications. If convicted, he faces a maximum 50 years in prison.

Court documents claimed Chkhikvishvili leads the Maniac Murder Cult, or MKY, an international racially motivated violent neo-Nazi extremist group. Chkhikvishvili allegedly recruited people to commit violent acts, including the planning and soliciting of a mass casualty event in New York City.

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