Yahweh Ben Yahweh

Yahweh Ben Yahweh, who had a following of thousands as the leader of a violent black supremacist sect in Miami and who later spent years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder, died May 7 of prostate cancer at his home in Opa-locka, Fla. He was 71. Yahweh, a charismatic speaker known for his flowing white robes and jeweled turbans, explored various religious fringe groups before forming his sect in Miami in 1979.

Yahweh Ben Yahweh, who had a following of thousands as the leader of a violent black supremacist sect in Miami and who later spent years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder, died May 7 of prostate cancer at his home in Opa-locka, Fla. He was 71. Yahweh, a charismatic speaker known for his flowing white robes and jeweled turbans, explored various religious fringe groups before forming his sect in Miami in 1979.

As a star defensive end for UC Berkeley, he had a promising future. And sure enough, when Robert Rozier Jr. left school in 1979, he signed a contract with the National Football League's St. Louis Cardinals and later played pro football in Canada. But in a crowded federal courtroom here, it is Rozier's past as Neariah Israel, a Death Angel for a charismatic sect leader called Yahweh Ben Yahweh, that has provided the high drama in a sensational racketeering trial.

A cult leader linked to mutilation murders in the 1980s was released from federal prison and returned to Miami after serving nearly 11 years of his 18-year sentence. Yahweh Ben Yahweh paid a fine of more than $16,000 required for his release on parole, the U.S. attorney's office said. Yahweh, 65, had sought to retake his leadership position with Nation of Yahweh, which attracted about 1,000 people to a gathering last year in Montreal.

The charismatic religious sect leader who calls himself the Son of God was convicted Wednesday of conspiracy to commit murder after a five-month trial filled with testimony about beheadings, mutilation and brutal beatings. Yahweh ben Yahweh--born Hulon Mitchell Jr.--was found guilty in connection with the plotting of 14 separate murders, two attempted murders and the terrorist firebombing of an entire block in Delray Beach, about 50 miles north of here.

A jury in Miami deliberated just over 2 1/2 hours before acquitting black sect leader Yahweh Ben Yahweh and three of his disciples in the murder of a man who reportedly challenged another of their followers. But Yahweh remains in prison, serving a 16 1/2-year sentence for his federal conspiracy conviction in May in 14 murders, two attempted killings and arson. In the state trial, Yahweh was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Cecil Branch.

A black separatist cult leader who built an economic empire in the ghetto with thousands of followers faces trial in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., today on a vast racketeering indictment. Yahweh ben Yahweh, who was born Hulon Mitchell Jr., is accused of running his religious sect as an instrument of terror, masterminding murders and silencing those who did not follow his whims. Fifteen of Mitchell's followers also will be on trial.

The government accused Yahweh Ben Yahweh of torturing and murdering dissident members of his black sect because he claims he is the son of God, his attorney said in closing arguments Friday. "My client is guilty," attorney Alcee L. Hastings said. "He's guilty of preaching, caring, teaching . . . guilty of loving people. . . . He's guilty of saying he's the son of God. But he's not guilty of any racketeering murder."

Two aides to Yahweh Ben Yahweh were each sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison for helping run a campaign of terror under the black religious leader's command. Linda Gaines and Richard Ingraham, along with Yahweh and four other followers, were convicted in May of racketeering-conspiracy in 14 murders, two attempted murders and an arson committed between 1981 and 1986. The two Yahweh followers proclaimed their innocence and said they would appeal. They also were fined $5,000 apiece. U.S.

A religious sect leader charged in the deaths of 14 people testified Wednesday that his teachings were not intended to cause hatred--especially racial hatred of "white devils." Yahweh ben Yahweh, who is charged with murder conspiracy, said he never intended his teachings to inspire violence. "I feel remorseful about anyone who has lost his life," Yahweh testified. "I feel especially sorry for the families.

Every so often, the melting pot of American culture spews out a strange and terrifying lump like Jim Jones, a demonic figure for whom race and religion are instruments of violence. And we come face to face with yet another self-made practitioner of the politics of apocalypse in Sydney P. Freedberg's "Brother Love." The man who called himself Brother Love was known by other names, too: Hulon Mitchell Jr., Hulon X, Father Michel, Yahweh Ben Yahweh.

A jury in Miami deliberated just over 2 1/2 hours before acquitting black sect leader Yahweh Ben Yahweh and three of his disciples in the murder of a man who reportedly challenged another of their followers. But Yahweh remains in prison, serving a 16 1/2-year sentence for his federal conspiracy conviction in May in 14 murders, two attempted killings and arson. In the state trial, Yahweh was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Cecil Branch.

Yahweh Ben Yahweh, the founder of a black religious sect, was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for ordering 14 murders of "white devils" and wayward disciples. Yahweh and six followers were convicted in May of federal conspiracy charges for leading a bloody reign of terror as he built his Miami-based Nation of Yahweh into an $8-million empire of motels, warehouses and stores. He claimed thousands of followers in 22 states.

Two aides to Yahweh Ben Yahweh were each sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison for helping run a campaign of terror under the black religious leader's command. Linda Gaines and Richard Ingraham, along with Yahweh and four other followers, were convicted in May of racketeering-conspiracy in 14 murders, two attempted murders and an arson committed between 1981 and 1986. The two Yahweh followers proclaimed their innocence and said they would appeal. They also were fined $5,000 apiece. U.S.

The charismatic religious sect leader who calls himself the Son of God was convicted Wednesday of conspiracy to commit murder after a five-month trial filled with testimony about beheadings, mutilation and brutal beatings. Yahweh ben Yahweh--born Hulon Mitchell Jr.--was found guilty in connection with the plotting of 14 separate murders, two attempted murders and the terrorist firebombing of an entire block in Delray Beach, about 50 miles north of here.

The government accused Yahweh Ben Yahweh of torturing and murdering dissident members of his black sect because he claims he is the son of God, his attorney said in closing arguments Friday. "My client is guilty," attorney Alcee L. Hastings said. "He's guilty of preaching, caring, teaching . . . guilty of loving people. . . . He's guilty of saying he's the son of God. But he's not guilty of any racketeering murder."

A cult leader linked to mutilation murders in the 1980s was released from federal prison and returned to Miami after serving nearly 11 years of his 18-year sentence. Yahweh Ben Yahweh paid a fine of more than $16,000 required for his release on parole, the U.S. attorney's office said. Yahweh, 65, had sought to retake his leadership position with Nation of Yahweh, which attracted about 1,000 people to a gathering last year in Montreal.

Every so often, the melting pot of American culture spews out a strange and terrifying lump like Jim Jones, a demonic figure for whom race and religion are instruments of violence. And we come face to face with yet another self-made practitioner of the politics of apocalypse in Sydney P. Freedberg's "Brother Love." The man who called himself Brother Love was known by other names, too: Hulon Mitchell Jr., Hulon X, Father Michel, Yahweh Ben Yahweh.

A distraught juror was replaced Thursday as the judge in the racketeering trial of religious sect leader Yahweh Ben Yahweh struggled to hold the proceedings together. Closing arguments were suspended as attorneys huddled behind closed doors to watch U.S. District Judge Norman Roettger question the juror, who expressed fears for her safety and suggested that the government had failed to prove its case. The woman was replaced by one of four alternate jurors.

A prosecutor displayed grisly autopsy photos and waved a sword in front of jurors during closing arguments Thursday in the racketeering trial of black supremacist Yahweh Ben Yahweh and 15 followers. "Death by sword was their preferred method of execution; decapitation and amputation of ears by death angels was their calling card," prosecutor Trudy Novicki said.