Middle school teacher arrested in alleged casino prostitution and Apple Pay fraud scheme
A New Jersey middle school computer teacher was detained after an alleged scheme at an Atlantic City casino hotel where a man was stripped, held, and forced to transfer $1,250 via Apple Pay.
According to a criminal complaint, Amanda Crafts and Veda Engel met a man at Caesar’s Atlantic City bar on October 9 and later invited him to a Harrah’s Resort room. Once inside, the victim says Engel performed a sex act before stopping and demanding payment, while Crafts allegedly held him down as Engel accessed his iPhone’s facial-recognition to open Apple Pay and transfer $1,250 in four installments. Crafts’ lawyer argues she was unaware of any illicit activity and was merely attending a party.
Engel has a prior prostitution charge from December 2025. Both suspects spent six days in the Atlantic County Justice Facility before being released on October 15. Crafts, who taught at Middle Township Middle School since 2016, was dismissed from her position, with the district emphasizing student safety.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about teacher conduct, student safety, and the misuse of biometric payment technology.
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