Summary

• Jimmy Altieri's status as a rat in The Sopranos is still debated among fans due to conflicting evidence and Tony's suspicions.
• Tony's suspicions of Jimmy are ed by factors such as his quick release on bail, knowledge of forensic techniques, and suspicious behavior.
• While there are no clear instances of Jimmy relaying secret information, Tony's confirmation bias leads him to believe Jimmy is a rat, ultimately affecting his relationships and actions.

Who is and who isn't a rat in The Sopranos has been hotly debated, but was Jimmy Altieri a rat? Even despite the copious amount of evidence the show delivered, that question has become controversial amongst the series' fanbase. Jimmy (Joe Badalucco) was a season 1 character who served as one of the captains in the Altieri crew and is partly the reason why the eventual hit on Pussy Bonpensiero (Vincent Pastore) was delayed. Word of either Pussy or Jimmy being a rat ran through Tony's (James Gandolfini) mind until a basement meeting between him and Jimmy in season 1, episode 11 "Nobody Knows Anything" convinced Tony of Jimmy's guilt.

Offsetting Tony's suspicions is the swiftness with which Jimmy went out on bail for his offense. Plus, the fact that Jimmy also knew about a new forensic technique that lifts fingerprints from money, and has generally suspicious body language, substantiates Tony's accusations against him. Unlike other, more secret FBI informants in The Sopranos, Jimmy exposes himself further as a rat by insisting on the details of past crimes to be relayed in meetings, despite him having received such information prior. Eventually, a hit is made on Jimmy, and a rat is shoved in his corpse's mouth to signify what Tony thought he was, but was Jimmy Altieri a rat?

Was Jimmy Altieri Really A Rat In The Sopranos?

There are no clear recorded instances in The Sopranos of Jimmy relaying any secret information to FBI agents. The main clues suggesting that he's a rat are Tony's suspicions, which are most likely accurate. As clear as these signs may seem, however, the surrounding circumstances around the time regarding Pussy complicate matters. Not only did Tony need to find the rat, but he wanted to believe that his friend Pussy wasn't the informant. In the end, Jimmy "ate the pill" for Pussy in season 1, suggesting that Jimmy's guilt may have been a way for Tony to ignore the truth about his friend.

What Jimmy Being A Possible Rat Really Meant In The Sopranos

Tony faces two forms of delusion throughout the show. He will delude others to exert power. For example, regarding Furio's sudden absence in The Sopranos, Tony threatens his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) by saying that he has guys who would cap Furio (Federico Castelluccio) on his command in an instant, despite this being untrue. Secondly, Tony will delude himself by using already-formed beliefs, suspicions, and desired realities. This phenomenon, known as "confirmation bias," is particularly present in Jimmy's case. Tony has ample reason to believe that Jimmy is a rat, but he then uses this as evidence to himself that Pussy isn't a rat - until stronger evidence proving otherwise surfaces.

Eventually, Tony's paranoia and keen observations prove to him that Pussy is an FBI informant. The loyalty he holds for Pussy quells Tony's suspicions for a short time, which marks a starting point for how his paranoia and aggressive nature grow in The Sopranos. It provides a foundation for Tony to eventually become the person who kills Christopher (Michael Imperioli) in The Sopranos season 6, despite their close friendship. While there's no definitive answer to "Was Jimmy Altieri a rat?" he most likely was an informant. However, Tony insisting on the fact and leaving the Pussy accusations alone before killing him in season 2 is telling of Tony's character.

How Jimmy Compares To The Biggest Sopranos Rats

When it comes to the FBI informants in The Sopranos, Jimmy Altieri sits somewhere in the middle in of adequacy. As it was never revealed that Jimmy was a rat, the character was essentially never caught. However, his biggest slip-up was asking way too many questions, which made Tony suspect him. Other informants are much worse, such as Carli Gervasi, who was both homophobic and terrible at his job. Jack Massarone was infinitely worse than Altieri too, as Jack's nervousness got him caught and subsequently whacked. However, Altieri's tenure as an informant doesn't compare to Adriana or Jimmy Petrille, who was a rat for 23 years.