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Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard could face jail time over Australia dog debacle

When Johnny Depp's wife recently visited him in Australia, she was charged for bringing their dogs into the country back in May.
/ Source: TODAY

This case has teeth!

Australia has charged Johnny Depp's wife, Amber Heard, with illegally importing animals and falsifying a document in relation to an incident this spring in which the couple allegedly sneaked their dogs into the country.

"I won't talk about the case," Australian Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce told TODAY. "What I can say is that the maximum fine, if you're found guilty, is up to 10 years in jail; it's very serious."

In May, Depp and Heard came to Australia so he could shoot scenes for the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" installment. They brought their dogs, two Yorkshire Terriers called Pistol and Boo, in on their private jet.

Geographically isolated countries like Australia and New Zealand can be sensitive about what comes across their borders. When customs officials discovered the dogs were let into the country without going through quarantine, Joyce declared famously: take them home or we'll put them down.

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Heard's dad took the dogs home via private jet. But when Heard arrived in Brisbane a few days ago, the country leveled charges against her presumably because she's the registered owner of the dogs.

A court date has been set for Sept. 4. Heard could face up to 11 years in jail for the combined charges and $100,000 in fines.

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