Casino Scheme: Computer teacher fired after $1,250 robbery

Amanda Crafts, a 35-year-old computer teacher at Middle Township Middle School, was fired on Oct. 19 after being arrested in an alleged robbery and sexual assault scheme at an Atlantic City hotel.

Crafts and her friend, Veda Engel, 23, were charged in connection with an incident that occurred on Oct. 9. The two women were held in custody for nearly a week and released on Oct. 15. Pretrial release conditions require them to check in with the court every other week.

Police say the victim met the pair at a hotel bar. After exchanging contact information with Engel, he went to their room. Inside, the victim said the women stripped him and restrained him to the bed. Engel then forced sexual acts on him.

According to the complaint, Engel stopped and stated, “That’s what you get for $1,250.” While Crafts held the victim down, Engel used his facial recognition to unlock his phone. She made four Apple Pay transactions to her account, totaling $1,250. A detective wrote in the affidavit that the money was taken without consent in exchange for the sexual acts.

Engel has a prior record of prostitution-related charges. Last year, she allegedly offered an undercover state police detective sex for $1,000 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. She was released on a summons in that case. Her attorney said she works at a commercial cleaning company in Ocean City.

Crafts told Judge Timothy Maguire during a video appearance that she was a teacher with no prior arrests. She said she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Crafts has four children and works in the school’s special area department.

Superintendent Stephanie DeRose confirmed the termination in a district statement. She said the school’s responsibility is to protect students and ensure staff meet expected standards. The district said the safety and well-being of students remain its highest priority.