Teacher Arrested in Alleged Prostitution Scheme at Casino Hotel

A New Jersey middle school teacher was arrested two weeks ago over an alleged prostitution-related robbery in which police say a man was held down, subjected to sexual acts and deprived of money inside an Atlantic City casino hotel room.

Authorities identified the suspect as Amanda Crafts, 35, of Wildwood Crest, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Her LinkedIn profile lists her as a computer teacher at Middle Township Middle School.

Crafts’ friend, 23-year-old Veda Engel of Cape May, also faces charges tied to the Oct. 9 incident. Engel has previously been accused in prostitution-related cases, including one reported in December, according to Breaking AC reported.

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Police said the man met the two women at a bar inside an Atlantic City hotel resort, according to the outlet.

After exchanging phone numbers with Engel, the victim reportedly went to the women’s hotel room.

Once he was inside, the man told investigators that the women removed his clothing and held him against the bed, Breaking AC reported.

According to the complaint, Engel allegedly forced sexual acts on the man before declaring, “That’s what you get for $1,250,” the outlet reported.

While Crafts allegedly kept the victim restrained, Engel used facial recognition to access his phone and completed four Apple Pay transfers to her account. The transactions totaled $1,250.

The victim said the payments were “made without his consent in exchange for sexual acts,” a detective wrote in affidavits cited by news reports.

At her initial court appearance, Crafts told the judge that she was a teacher and had no prior arrests.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Crafts told Judge Timothy Maguire during a video hearing from the Atlantic County Justice Facility, according to reports.

Crafts said she has four children. The school’s website identifies her as a member of the special area department, where she teaches computer classes, the outlet reported.

On Oct. 19, the school district confirmed that a Middle Township teacher had been arrested and said the employee was no longer working for the district.

“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 is employed by SoFresh SoClean Commercial Cleaning in Ocean City, her attorney told Breaking AC, according to the outlet.

Authorities have previously linked Engel to another prostitution-related investigation. Last year, she allegedly offered sex for $1,000 to an undercover New Jersey State Police detective at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

She was reportedly released on a summons at the time.

Engel and Crafts were both released Oct. 15 after being held for nearly a week, according to reports. The state consented to their pretrial release, which requires them to check in with the court every other week.