Kevin Linn,68, was arrested on Friday in Southern California on charges related to a kidnapping in Hillsborough in 1995.
9-year-old Kristine Chiu was eventually released unharmed after nine hours of captivity.
The State Department was able to match Lin's photo to a wanted picture issued by Hillsborough police back in 1995 when he applied for a passport under his real name.
They then notified authorities in the Bay Area and asked if they were still looking for him.
Officials confirmed they were, and the Feds placed a hold on him. He is being held on $5 million bail.
The kidnappers gave up on their plan after learning the girl's wealthy parents were in Taiwan. She was found unharmed inside a hotel at San Francisco International Airport.
One other suspect was caught and found guilty back in 1997.
MORE: Suspect in Hillsborough kidnapping cold case captured
Suspect in Hillsborough kidnapping cold case captured