Dominick Montiglio, who waged war in Vietnam and then fought for his mobster uncle in Brooklyn before turning on him and his crew of wanton killers to help end one of the most violent chapters in the history of the American Mafia, died Sunday evening in his new home town near Albuquerque. He was 73.

His death came a few days after he suffered a stroke, his second in two years.

In an epic courtroom confrontation, Montiglio testified against Gambino crime family leaders who oversaw a savage crew of mobsters specializing in auto thefts who were believed to have killed up to 200 people, including many who simply strayed innocently into its path. The most prominent defendant was mob boss Paul (Big Paul) Castellano. Montiglio also testified against capo Anthony (Nino) Gaggi, the uncle who raised him and who had direct oversight of the murderous crew.