http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/reverend-wiseguy-and-hboFranzese himself explains in this document that his father's influence made it easier for him to become a member and that his business talent would make him a valuable asset to the family. He claims only to have peripheral knowledge of murders, which I actually find plausible. There's over a hundred Colombos, heaps of spots that needed to be filled in the 70s and only so many murders to be committed. However, later on in those documents Sal Miciotta claims Franzese was more of an active participant and instigator in murders.
Obviously he has broken omerta and those documents show he was giving up information to the feds. I'd say that, along with testifying publicly at various places, makes him a rat. He was just lucky to get away with it.
