An insurancescheme gone awry has left two South Carolinianswith blood on their hands after allegedly conducting anamputation on a third party with a rudimentary yard tool.

According to the federal indictment, Gerald B. Hardin, 34, andanother, currently unnamed male, severed an acquaintance's handwith a pole saw (a compact chain saw attached to a pole, used tocut tree branches) in an attempt to collect benefits on threeAccidental Death and Dismemberment policies, as well as thehomeowner's insurance policy at the Sumter County, S.C. home wherethe incident occurred.

The name of the homeowner has not yet been released. What isknown, however, is that the man who suffered the hackneyedamputation was later transported to a local hospital, wheresurgeons attempted—unsuccessfully—to reattach his hand.

So how much does a hand fetch these days, anyway? According toauthorities, the three received a little more than $671,000 fromthe combined policies in this not-so-garden-variety accident. Itremains unlikely that any of them will get to enjoy theirrespective “cut” of the ill-gotten gains.

Some time passed after the perpetration of the crime before theFBI received a tip about the allegedinsurance-fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors report thatHardin and his accomplice sawed off the hand of the third partyback in May 2008.

Following an investigation by the FBI, Hardin opted to turnhimself in, later posting a $100,000 bond for release from a countydetention center. He is charged with six crimes, includinginsurance fraud, for which he could spend 20 years in jail andpay as much as $250,000 in fines if found guilty.In addition, pending a conviction, the court could ask that Hardinpay restitution in the amount of the insurance payouts.