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. He controlled a multimillion-dollar business empire that included schools, grocery stores, and real estate and once claimed to have 20,000 followers in 45 cities.

Calling himself the “Original Jew,” Yahweh adopted a name that means “God, the son of God” in Hebrew. He said he and his disciples were the true descendants of a long-lost tribe of Israel.

From the beginning, however, Yahweh’s group was associated with an intimidating style that often crossed into violence and murder. He railed against “white devils” and proclaimed himself the messiah: “All who receive me shall be saved from immorality and death.”

Still, he managed to cultivate an image as a well-meaning, if eccentric, community builder. Yahweh helped clean up blighted neighborhoods and, at least among his followers, restored a sense of order to a crumbling social structure. Children studied Hebrew and recited the names of chemical elements and countries.

He spoke to crowds of thousands around the country and received the blessings of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. In 1987, the Miami Urban League gave Yahweh its highest humanitarian award, and its president pronounced him “an inspiration to the entire community.”

Never lacking in confidence or self-esteem, Yahweh once addressed a group of Miami business leaders: “Egypt has her pyramids. India has her Taj Mahal. France has her Eiffel Tower. Miami has the son of Yahweh. The world’s greatest attraction is in your midst. I’m here.”