New Jersey Teacher Arrested in Alleged Casino Hotel Prostitution and Robbery Scheme

A New Jersey teacher has been arrested in connection with an alleged prostitution scheme that involved restraining a man, forcing sexual acts, and robbing him in a casino hotel room. Amanda Crafts, 35, of Wildwood Crest, a computer teacher at Middle Township Middle School, was taken into custody two weeks ago, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Veda Engel, 23, of Cape May, who was identified as Crafts' friend, also faces charges related to the Oct. 9 incident. Engel has prior prostitution-related charges, including one from December.

According to police, the victim met Crafts and Engel at a bar in an Atlantic City hotel resort. After exchanging numbers with Engel, he reportedly went to their hotel room. Once inside, the victim stated the two women stripped him and physically restrained him to the bed. Engel then allegedly forced sexual acts upon him, stating, "That’s what you get for $1,250." As Crafts held the victim down, Engel reportedly used his facial recognition to unlock his phone and made four separate Apple Pay transactions totaling $1,250.

The victim told investigators that the transactions were made "without his consent in exchange for sexual acts."

During her first court appearance, Crafts stated she was a teacher and had no prior arrests. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," she told Judge Timothy Maguire. Crafts, who has four children, taught computers in the school's special area department.

The Middle Township School District acknowledged the arrest of a teacher in a statement on Oct. 19 and confirmed the employee had been fired. "Our responsibility is to protect our students, follow appropriate procedures, and ensure that those entrusted with caring for and educating our children meet the standards expected of them. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority," Superintendent Stephanie DeRose said.

Engel reportedly works for SoFresh SoClean Commercial Cleaning in Ocean City. This is not her first prostitution-related encounter with law enforcement; last year, she allegedly offered an undercover New Jersey State Police detective sexual services for $1,000 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. She was reportedly released on a summons at that time.

Both Crafts and Engel were released on Oct. 15 after being held for nearly a week. Their pretrial release requires them to check in with the court every two weeks.