ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Two women are accused of using facial recognition and Apple Pay to rob a man in an Atlantic City hotel room, according to court records and reports.
Both Veda Engel, 23, and Amanda Crafts, 35, are charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, according to court records. Engel was additionally charged with prostitution.
Crafts is a teacher at Middle Township Middle School.
Engel called the victim to meet up with her and Crafts in their hotel room shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, according to NJ.com.
Engel agreed to perform a sex act on the man in exchange for money, but the two women held him down and took his cellphone, the report said.
Engel used facial recognition on his phone to send herself $1,250 via Apple Pay, according to the report.
She had previously been charged with prostitution last December, according to BreakingAC.
Middle Township School District Superintendent Stephanie DeRose sent a letter to parents announcing that a teacher had been arrested.
"Based on the information available to us, the charges are unrelated to the individual's performance or responsibilities as an employee of Middle Township School District and the event occurred outside of Cape May County," DeRose wrote. "Please know that the charges do not involve any alleged threat, inappropriate behavior, or misconduct occurring within our schools or involving our students."
DeRose added that she could not comment on the arrest, but the district takes these matters seriously.
She did not address Crafts' employment status.
Crafts remains listed as a computer teacher at Middle Township Middle School.
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