A $1,250 Casino Robbery Ends Middle Township Teacher's Career

Middle Township Middle School dismissed computer teacher Amanda Crafts on October 19, two weeks after her arrest. The termination followed charges related to a robbery and sexual assault incident at an Atlantic City hotel resort.

Police records describe the October 9 incident at a casino hotel room. The victim, a man who met the suspects at a bar, exchanged contact information with Veda Engel. He then entered the room where Crafts and Engel were staying.

The complaint states the women stripped the victim and restrained him to the bed. Engel forced sexual acts on the man before announcing, "That’s what you get for $1,250," according to the affidavit. While Crafts held the victim down, Engel used his facial recognition to unlock his phone.

Engel completed four Apple Pay transactions totaling $1,250 to her account. A detective noted these transfers were made without the victim's consent in exchange for the sexual acts. Both women were released from custody on October 15 after being held for nearly a week. The state agreed to pretrial release, requiring them to check in with the court every other week.

Crafts, 35, of Wildwood Crest, told Judge Timothy Maguire during a video appearance that she has four children and had never been arrested before. She stated, "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Her co-defendant, Engel, 23, of Cape May, works for a commercial cleaning company in Ocean City.

Engel has a prior record of prostitution-related charges. In December of the previous year, she allegedly offered an undercover state trooper sex for $1,000 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. She was released on a summons at that time.

Superintendent Stephanie DeRose confirmed the firing in a statement released on October 19. She said the district's responsibility is to protect students and ensure staff meet expected standards. DeRose added that the safety and well-being of students remain the highest priority for the school.