All Tommy had to do was take it and just keep earning with Jimmy and he would eventually be made, then Batts wouldn't be able to embarrass him and give him shit about the shine box anymore. Being with Paulie made Tommy think he could get away with anything. After they killed Batts, Tommy figured Paulie knew 'but didn't know' and would work it out with the Gambinos. They worked it out alright. Of course, Henry's Scarface style drug dealing eventually took down Paulie's crew anyway.
I would take what Henry Hill said about Billy Batts Bentivgna with a grain of salt. All my research puts Billy Batts as an associate of the Gambino Family in crew later ran by Fat Andy Ruggiano, which the ultimate leader of that whole faction was Joseph N. Gallo. Forget about Batts being a protege of Fatico or even Gotti. Batts was higher than gotti back then and in a different crew that ultimately answered to Joe N Gallo. Batts may have been made the same time as Fat Andy, but I have seen no proof of it as of yet. I believe Tommy Agro killed Tommy DeSimone as retaliation. The Lucchese Family I doubt cared enough to whack Tommy so they threw the Gambino's a bone. That's why Agro had a soft spot for Bobby DeSimone. Joe Dogs story makes more sense than Hill's. Bentivgna was part of the Lucchese/Gambino/Bonanno/Genovese heroin pipeline out of the Montreal Bonanno wing. Carmine Galante and Big John Ormento were the main players in the wholesale. Chalutz Gagliodotto also played a part along with Carlie DiPietro. The Panico brother were involved along with Tony Mirra.
