Ronald Fischer, 70, a fugitive for more than 20 years, was captured on a sailboat off the coast of New Jersey.
He had fled during his trial for first-degree sexual assault in Rhode Island.
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Fischer was tried in 2005 but absconded, informing his attorney via email that he was leaving the United States.
He believed he could avoid conviction.
In his email, Fischer wrote, "Although I believe my trial has gone very well, and expect to be acquitted and dismissed, the small chance of losing could carry extremely and unacceptably harsh penalties," as reported by The Guardian.
He was subsequently convicted in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
His case was frequently featured on the true-crime show America's Most Wanted.
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Investigators recently tracked Fischer, who was using the alias Richard Graydon and operating a 56-foot sailing vessel named Silver Lining.
State police worked with federal authorities to intercept him.
On Thursday, Fischer surrendered without resistance when confronted by law enforcement about an hour off New Jersey's coast, according to the US Marshals Service.
Wing Chau, the Rhode Island US Marshal, stated, "For more than 20 years, Ronald Fischer believed he had successfully escaped justice," highlighting the efforts that led to his capture.
Fischer now faces additional charges for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and failure to appear in court, alongside his sexual assault conviction.
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Chau added, "Thanks to outstanding investigative work, exceptional intelligence analysis, and seamless coordination between agencies, Fischer is finally in custody," indicating the collaborative effort behind the arrest.
