Also keep in mind that the Favara killing was 40 years ago. This was just before RICO began to be wielded as a weapon against gangsters. Law enforcement didn't quite have the upper hand yet. Any person in the NYC area (especially a wiseguy neighborhood) would have feared the mob no matter what the police said. Favara probably asked that guy for advice because he was scared. With good reason.
. Although you make some good points RICO was implemented in the 70’s. However you’re still correct back in 1980 law enforcement didn’t have the type of resources they eventually had some years later to really taken in the mob at that time. I’m sure Favara was scared specially after being assaulted after trying to apologize again