Stephan Todd Reisinger, Obstruction of Justice, North Dakota 2021

Williston, ND – A former maintenance manager at Nabors Completion and Production Services Company (NCPS) has received 18 months of supervised release for his role in the 2014 death of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, stemming from a preventable industrial accident. Stephan Todd Reisinger, 51, was sentenced on October 14, 2021, after admitting to obstructing an investigation into the death of Dustin Payne, 28.

The tragic incident occurred when Payne was welding on a tanker trailer at the NCPS facility in Williston, North Dakota. Unbeknownst to Payne, the trailer had previously contained “produced water,” a hazardous liquid waste byproduct of oil well operations. This water contains highly flammable chemicals, and welding on the uncleaned tank resulted in a catastrophic explosion, fatally injuring Payne.

Federal law explicitly prohibits welding on tanks or containers that haven’t been thoroughly cleaned of flammable materials. Investigators determined that Reisinger, as maintenance manager overseeing approximately 40 employees, was aware the trailers routinely carried produced water. Despite this knowledge, and despite company policies mandating specialized training and internal audits, Reisinger failed to ensure proper safety protocols were followed. Payne, along with other welders at the facility, repeatedly performed welding work on tanks containing dangerous hydrocarbon residue.

The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of negligence. NCPS, and its successor C&J Well Services, had policies in place to prevent such accidents. However, these policies were not adequately implemented, and crucially, Payne never received the welding-specific training required by company standards. Reisinger compounded the problem by providing false statements to OSHA investigators, claiming he was unaware of the hazards associated with produced water and falsely stating he believed the tanks contained “just water.”

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Legal Ramifications

Reisinger was convicted of violating Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, specifically 18 U.S.C. 1505, which criminalizes obstruction of justice. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine. While Reisinger received a sentence of 18 months supervised release, the case highlights the severe legal consequences for those who prioritize profit over worker safety and then attempt to cover up their negligence. C&J Well Services previously pleaded guilty to related charges and was ordered to pay $2.1 million in fines and restitution in August 2019.

Key Facts

Defendant: Stephan Todd Reisinger
Victim: Dustin Payne, 28, U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Location: Nabors Completion and Production Services (NCPS) facility, Williston, North Dakota
Date of Incident: October 3, 2014
Crime: Workplace safety violation/obstruction of justice
Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. 1505
Penalty: 18 months supervised release
Corporate Liability: C&J Well Services (successor to NCPS) paid $2.1 million in fines and restitution.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of workplace safety regulations and the potential for devastating consequences when those regulations are ignored. GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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