Riverdale Man Arrested on Warrant for 1981 Murder

Federal agents and local police arrested a Riverdale man this week wanted on a 30-year-old warrant for first-degree murder, officials said Thursday.

Jesus Blas-Perea, 53—also known as Severino Tapia Rosales—was taken into custody Monday by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and members of the Prince George's County Police Department.

Blas-Perea stands accused of the 1981 killing of Jose Santos-Duque in Houston. He is being held by the PGPD pending extradition to Harris County, Texas.

Officials said Blas-Perea is a native and citizen of Mexico who was previously deported twice for being in the country unlawfully. His arrest reportedly came about through "Operation Found 'Em," an initiative by HSI's Houston office to track down foreign nationals and illegal immigrants suspected of committing murders in the Harris County area.

"The diligence of HSI special agents, police and prosecutors in pursuing this case over the years means that he will now be held accountable for this homicide," said William Winter, HSI Baltimore's special agent in charge.

"HSI will continue to work with our local and state law enforcement partners on investigations to locate, arrest and bring to justice foreign nationals that are a public safety or national security threat to our communities," Winter added.