Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Travis James Mingal, aged 41, was taken into custody yesterday for reportedly pilfering more than $52,000 in metal items from a recycling company and disposing of them at a scrap yard.

The proprietor of a recycling firm reached out to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) on June 5 concerning a string of break-ins and thefts at his secured facility, located near the 2800 block of N. Main Street. He reported incurring losses exceeding $52,000 due to theft and vandalism. The suspect allegedly dismantled radiators, wiring, and various metal components from costly machinery on the premises, which included several excavators valued over $100,000 that are now unusable due to the missing parts.

The owner also mentioned that a 40-yard dumpster stuffed with crushed stainless steel animal enclosures from a UF animal research lab had been affected. These cages are distinctively shaped, with many still bearing faded UF identification stickers.

The victim, suspecting that the thief was selling the stolen items to a scrap yard, visited two local scrap yards, and a supervisor at one of them reportedly confirmed receiving the animal cages and a list of parts that closely matched the list of stolen parts. Most of the metals had been sold already, but a GPD detective viewed some of the animal cages and reported that “one look” was all it took to confirm that they were the same as the cages remaining at the victim’s business. The scrap yard supervisor also reportedly confirmed that he had never seen cages like this in nearly two decades in the business, and only Mingal had ever brought in these cages.

The victim set up cameras and reportedly caught Mingal on video, approaching some of the damaged machinery and carrying some of the stolen materials.

The detective learned that Mingal had been taking a mix of metal parts and cages to the scrap yard for several weeks, and his mother had been driving him to the scrap yard in her car.

When selling these items, Mingal provided his ID card, signature, thumbprint, and an attestation that he was the true and rightful owner of the materials; the scrap yard also takes a photo of each seller.

Yesterday, after Mingal’s mother’s vehicle was seen pulling into the scrap yard, Mingal was arrested inside the business, allegedly attempting to sell more animal cages and metal parts.

Mingal’s mother was questioned later at GPD Headquarters; when she was shown pictures from the victim’s cameras, she reportedly “had a strong emotional reaction and positively identified” the suspect as her son. She reportedly said Mingal moved from GRACE Marketplace to a campsite in the woods that is right outside the victim’s business.

Mingal, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with burglary with property damage, organized dealing in stolen property, grand theft over $20,000, and falsely attesting to ownership of secondary metals. He has 20 felony convictions (non-violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in October 2024. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $280,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.