By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

BUSINESSMAN Takahisa Goto, who was sentenced along with former Sen. Willy Flores, former Speaker Tommy Tanaka and former Chief of Staff Gil Shinohara, was recommended for early release from probation by the U.S. Probation Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Guam and the CNMI.
In a motion in Guam District Court, Chief U.S. Probation Officer Frank Michael Cruz reported that Goto — who was placed on probation for five years — has complied with the rules and regulations of probation and is no longer in need of supervision.
Goto was sentenced to two years probation on Oct. 27, 2005 by Judge William Alsup for aiding and abetting money laundering.
In addition to the standard and mandatory conditions of probation, Goto was ordered to serve three months home confinement to include electronic monitoring ; not to travel without the approval of the U.S. Probation Office; and give at least one speech to a group of no less than 200 people during the first year of his probation.
He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay a fine of $2,000.
In a special report submitted yesterday, Cruz informed the district court that Goto had satisfied his three months of home confinement, completed 200 hours of community service, and paid his fine on Nov. 3, 2005.
He also reported that Goto gave his “I am a convicted felon” speech before an audience exceeding 278 adults during the 21st anniversary party of his company.
The probation officer added that Goto has shown stable community reintegration with stable residence and work, no record of arrests or convictions, and has been an exemplary probationer “who took on the challenges of his conditions without any hesitation.”
“He’s been in full compliance with all the conditions of his probation,” Cruz stated.
According to Cruz, his recommendation is supported by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Strand.