how does that not raise every red flag available to thomas zhao? >> it should have. ted he question the intelligence officer occasionally. >> when i try to cut the relationship with him, it was already kind of late. >> do you feel like you're trapped? >> yeah. >> reporter: zhao, u.s. citizen since he was 12 was arrested, pleaded guilty in this currently serving more than two years for bribery and conspiracy. but his actions did not rise to the level of espionage. >> i was like, this is impossible. >> reporter: his wife told us while her husband made a mistake, he was just as shocked as anyone that he was dealing with a chinese intelligence officer. was thomas zhao scammed, or did he willfully and knowingly betray his country? >> he would never do that. he would never betray his country. that's not him. >> reporter: a spokesperson for china's u.s. embassy denied knowledge of the zhao case telling cbs news it "hopes the united states will stop hyping up the so-called chinese espionage risk." but the ncis agent we just heard from ryan norris told us he expects the chines