GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Travis James Mingal, 41, was arrested after allegedly stealing more than $52,000 worth of metal from a Gainesville recycling business and selling the items to a local scrap yard, according to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD).
The investigation began on June 5, when the business owner reported repeated burglaries at his fenced property near the 2800 block of N. Main Street. The suspect had reportedly cut wiring, radiators, and metal parts from high-value machinery—including several excavators valued at over $100,000—rendering them inoperable.
Among the stolen items was a 40-yard dumpster filled with crushed stainless steel animal cages from a University of Florida research facility. These cages were unique in appearance and still bore faded UF stickers.
Scrap Yard Tip Leads to Arrest
Suspecting the items were being sold to scrap yards, the business owner visited two facilities. A scrap yard supervisor confirmed receiving unusual items—cages and metal parts—that matched the stolen property list. A GPD detective visually confirmed that the cages matched those still on-site at the victim’s property. According to the supervisor, no other customer besides Mingal had ever brought in these distinct cages in nearly 20 years of business.
Surveillance footage set up by the victim showed Mingal entering the property, handling stolen materials. Further investigation revealed Mingal had been delivering these materials to the scrap yard for several weeks, often driven by his mother in her personal vehicle.
While selling, Mingal provided identification, signature, thumbprint, and a written claim of ownership, as required by law. Each transaction was also photographed.
On June 10, Mingal was arrested at the scrap yard while allegedly trying to sell more of the stolen materials. His mother later positively identified him in security footage and admitted he had been camping in the woods near the victim’s business after leaving GRACE Marketplace.
Criminal History and Charges
Mingal, whose listed address is GRACE Marketplace, has a lengthy criminal record:
20 felony convictions
14 misdemeanor convictions
Three prior state prison sentences (last release: October 2024)
He now faces multiple charges:
Burglary with property damage
Organized dealing in stolen property
Grand theft over $20,000
False attestation of ownership of secondary metals
Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $280,000.
