Yahweh Ben Yahweh; Led Violent Cult

Onetime professional football player Robert Rozier, a close associate who confessed to killing seven people, testified for the prosecution. Mr. Yahweh was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and acquitted of racketeering charges.

He was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison and was released on parole in 2001 after serving nine. By court order, he could have no communication with any of his onetime disciples.

Mr. Yahweh, whose given name was Hulon Mitchell Jr., was born in Kingfisher, Okla., the oldest of 13 children. A sister, Leona Mitchell, went on to become a renowned soprano with New York's Metropolitan Opera. In interviews, she has not discussed her brother.

Mr. Yahweh graduated from Phillips University in Enid, Okla., served in the Air Force and studied law at the University of Oklahoma. He later moved to Chicago, where as Hulon Shah, he became involved with the Nation of Islam.

He later reportedly received a master's degree in economics from Atlanta University and began preaching as "Father Michel." Moving to Orlando, he styled himself as "Brother Love" before settling in Miami and adopting his new life.

In 1987, Mr. Yahweh's father, a Pentecostal preacher, spoke to a reporter from the St. Petersburg Times in Florida.

"I was there when he was born, holding his mama's hand," he said. "You can't get closer than that, and he is not the son of God."

Mr. Yahweh had four children and at least six grandchildren. After his release from prison, he lived alone, working as a landscaper.