Middle Township Middle School fires computer teacher arrested in Atlantic City casino scheme

Amanda Crafts, a computer teacher at Middle Township Middle School in New Jersey, was fired on Oct. 19 following her arrest in an alleged prostitution and robbery scheme at an Atlantic City casino hotel.

The district confirmed the termination in a statement released two days after Crafts’ arrest. Superintendent Stephanie DeRose said the school’s duty is to protect students and ensure staff meet expected standards. DeRose added that student safety remains the district’s top priority.

Police reports detail the incident that occurred on Oct. 9. A male victim met Crafts and her friend, Veda Engel, at a hotel bar. After exchanging contact information with Engel, the victim went to their room. Inside, he said the women stripped him and held him down on the bed.

Engel performed sexual acts on the victim. She then told him, “That’s what you get for $1,250,” according to the complaint. While Crafts restrained the victim, Engel used his facial recognition to unlock his phone. She completed four Apple Pay transactions totaling $1,250 to her account. A detective noted these transfers were made without consent.

Crafts, 35, of Wildwood Crest, appeared in court via video from the Atlantic County Justice Facility. She told Judge Timothy Maguire that she has four children and had no prior arrests. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said. The New Jersey Department of Corrections identified her as the suspect.

Engel, 23, of Cape May, has a previous record involving prostitution charges, including an incident in December. Last year, she allegedly offered sex to an undercover detective at the Borgata Hotel Casino for $1,000 and was released on a summons. Her attorney stated she works for SoFresh SoClean Commercial Cleaning in Ocean City.

Both women were held for nearly a week before being released on Oct. 15. The state agreed to their pretrial release with a requirement to check in with the court every other week.