Paciello was used by the feds because :
1) feds love when a high profile guy flips.
2) the feds wanted Spero
3) they knew paciello wasnt the shooter in the home invasion.
Paciello attracted people because of his alleged mob connections, people are attracted to that ; they love gangsters.
The kid had some balls but so does everyone until they get caught and then the balls disappear.
I also think Paciello was originally offered 8 years as a plea package with some others and turned it down and decided to cooperate. He would of been better off doing the 8 years. If true, that made absolutely no sense.