PITTSBURGH -- Boxer Paul Spadafora's former girlfriend -- who survived being shot by the "Pittsburgh Kid" years ago -- is accused of concocting a scam to torch her car for insurance money.

Nadine Russo, of Beechview, is charged with arson, insurance fraud, conspiracy and false reports to law enforcement, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WTAE Channel 4 Action News.

Pittsburgh police said Russo's friend, Anthony Cutter, of Mount Washington, and his co-worker, Danilou Tift, were paid to set Russo's 1999 Mitsubishi Diamante on fire.

The burned-out car was found on Sept. 15 near the corner of Dickens and Dubois Street, about a block from Langley High School, police said.

Police traced the car to Russo and learned that she had reported it stolen. They said she collected more than $6,000 in an insurance payout.

Later, police in Erie got an anonymous tip that the claim was false and Cutter was involved.

Pittsburgh police then interviewed Cutter, and they said he told them the fire had been intentionally set by Tift, also known as Daniel Townes.

The three of them got an extra key made at a dealership in South Park, then drove to Russo's home so Cutter and Tift could pick up her car and burn it, police said.

Before setting the fire, Tift used a screwdriver to scratch the ignition and make it appear that someone had tried to steal the vehicle, Cutter said in the police interview.

Cutter is charged with arson and conspiracy, according to the complaint.

Russo has a child with Spadafora, who shot her during an argument in McKees Rocks in October 2003. Spadafora pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and served time in prison and a boot camp.

Spadafora, who now lives and trains in Erie, was accused of violating a protection from abuse order earlier this year. Those charges were dropped because authorities determined that Russo had initiated the contact by traveling to see him.

Police have not said that Spadafora is connected to the car fire in any way.