Middle School Teacher Charged in Alleged Casino Robbery at Harrah’s Atlantic City

Two New Jersey women—including a middle school computer teacher—have been charged after allegedly physically restraining a casino guest at Harrah’s Atlantic City and using his phone’s facial recognition technology to steal $1,250, according to court documents.

The victim was allegedly stripped naked before being “physically restrained” and robbed of $1,250 by two women, one of whom is a middle school computer teacher.

Amanda Crafts, 35, of Wildwood, N.J., and Veda Engel, 23, of Cape May, face theft and conspiracy to commit robbery charges in relation to the Oct. 9 incident.

According to probable cause affidavits obtained by BreakingAC, the alleged victim initially met the women at a bar at Caesars Atlantic City, where he exchanged phone numbers with Engel.

She later invited him to join the pair in their hotel room at Harrah’s.

Alleged Restraint and Financial Transfer

The man told police the women restrained him on the bed while Engel performed a sex act.

Engel then abruptly stopped, allegedly announcing, “That’s what you get for $1,250.”

Crafts held the man down while Engel used facial recognition technology to unlock his cell phone and make four separate transactions totaling $1,250 through Apple Pay, according to the complaint.

The man told investigators he had not consented to the payments.

Engel, who also faces a prostitution charge in the case, was previously arrested in December after allegedly offering an undercover New Jersey State Police detective sex for $1,000 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. She was released on a summons in that matter.

Pretrial Release and Court Appearance

The involvement of Crafts, a computer teacher at Middle Township Middle School, added an unexpected element to the proceedings.

At an initial appearance, Crafts told Judge Timothy Maguire she had no prior arrest record and insisted she was merely in “the wrong place at the wrong time.” She also expressed concern regarding childcare for her four children while held in custody.

During a detention hearing Thursday, Oct. 15, Judge Christine Smith expressed surprise upon learning of Crafts’ profession, according to court reports.

Both women were granted pretrial release Thursday after prosecutors agreed to supervision subject to biweekly court check-ins. Judge Smith ordered both defendants to maintain employment and prohibited them from contacting each other or the alleged victim.