In the book, he never really got his button. Stanfa needed men and he basically said "ok Ron, you're made, we will do the ceremony after we get rid of these punks." Aka merlinos crew. Then Stanfa got out away and he started hanging around Natale as a "made" man.. But agreed he shouldn't even have sniffed a button let alone a high ranking associate.. That being said I kind of like him haha