Hollywood actor Johnny Depp could face up to a decade in prison or a maximum $340,000 fine for illegally bringing his two dogs into Australia earlier this month, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. At a Senate committee hearing in Australia it was told Depp's pilot could face up to two years in prison. Officials have referred to the case as "very serious".
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor, 51, got into trouble earlier this month when he illegally brought his Yorkshire terriers into the country on a private jet. He was told to get his animals back to the U.S. or they would be euthanized. They were flown back to the U.S. earlier this month after agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to put the two dogs down.
Joyce accused Depp of smuggling his dogs on his private jet when he returned to Australia in April to continue filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean. Bringing pets into Australia involves applying for a permit and "a quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days", the Associated Press reports.
The story originated when pictures of Depp taking his dogs to the local groomer surfaced on social media and authorities warned that the dogs would be put down unless they were flown out of the country in the following two days.
Depp's wife Amber Heard has since returned to California with the dogs, Pistol and Boo. The actor and his wife reportedly left the country on Monday to celebrate his daughter Lily Rose's 16th birthday. The actor is currently busy shooting for his new "Pirates of the Caribbean". His new drama film "Black Mass" will hit UK theatres on November 13.
The flick sees Depp embody Whitey Bulger, a notorious gangster who teamed up with the FBI to bring down a mafia family. The star cast also includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Dakota Johnson, Juno Temple, Kevin Bacon and Corey Stoll.
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