Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Goni attained a BA from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. He then served as a scientific illustrator for the Puerto Rico Sea Grant for 4 years. To acquire an MFA in illustration, he moved to Atlanta, GA where he attended the Savannah College of Art and Design. After interning for illustrator Bill Mayer, he began freelancing for editorial and sci-fi fantasy markets.