In the book The Last Mafioso, Jimmy Fratiano states that he went to New York in 1976 to meet with members of the Colombo family to find out if there would be any problem with LA Making Mike Rizitello into their family.
Incidently he also states that another reason for the trip was to see people from the Gambino's about some dispute with Tony Plate. And that was how he came to be on the famous picture with Frank Sinatra Carlo Gambino and Paul Castalano.