David Player and Gerald “Trey” Hardin of Sumter County, S.C., convinced Michael “Porky” Weaver, who is severely mentally handicapped and illiterate, that they could get money if they cut off Mr. Weaver’s hand. Messrs. Player and Hardin cut off Mr. Weaver’s hand using a trimmer with an eight-inch chainsaw blade at the end of a pole. Mr. Player, who had Mr. Weaver’s power of attorney, told the insurance companies the injury was an accident. Hartford Financial Services Co. paid out a total of $671,000, most of which went to Mr. Player. He used the money to buy luxury items, build an auto repair shop, and pay for his divorce. It was during the divorce that Mr. Player’s wife discovered evidence of the fraud and reported it to the FBI. Mr. Player received a 14-year sentence in federal prison, and Mr. Hardin was sentenced to three years and five months. Mr. Weaver was not prosecuted.
