A month ago, Pirates 5 producer Jerry Bruckheimer posted this photo to his Twitter page as a joke. His caption, “Captain Jack is back and we’re not letting him go,” referred to how Johnny Depp finally returned to Australia. This momentous event arrived after a 2-month hiatus (during which Depp legitimately injured his hand and then sketchily disappeared).

Johnny Depp has left Australia again. He was rumored to have left a week ago in a huff after smuggling his two dogs into the country with Amber Heard by his side. Producers convinced Johnny to continue filming while Amber’s parents took Pistol and Boo back to LA. Johnny followed suit yesterday and climbed onto a private jet. The Mail has photos of Johnny arriving at the airport. Officially, he’s heading stateside for daughter Lily Rose’s 16th birthday. Let’s hope he returns to Australia and doesn’t leave cast and crew dangling again.

Also on Monday, an Australian Senate committee met over Terriergate. The Aussie government is taking this matter very seriously because of the country’s fragile environment. The Sydney Morning Herald says Johnny could face up to 10 years in prison or a gigantic fine for neglecting to follow proper quarantine procedures:

Government officials have confirmed Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp could face up to 10 years in prison or a maximum fine of $340,000 for illegally bringing his two dogs into Australia.

His pilot could face up to two years in prison for his role in the undeclared importing of Pistol and Boo.

These were some of the details revealed as a Senate committee hearing in Canberra turned its attention to the high-profile quarantine case.

Earlier this month, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to have Depp’s two Yorkshire terriers put down after they were illegally brought into the country.

“The dog thing – we’ll get that out of the way quickly,” was the ambitious goal growled by a member of the Senate rural and regional affairs and transport committee on Monday afternoon.

Agriculture Department officials presented themselves at Parliament House to answer questions from the committee – all of its members keen to find out who let the dogs in.

“It is very serious,” politicians and public servants agreed. “A complete balls up,” muttered another committee member.

An ongoing investigation by the department understands that Depp, his fellow passengers and the flight crew all failed to declare the presence of the dogs. Customs officers did not find the terriers when they boarded the aircraft before the passengers disembarked.

[From Sydney Morning Herald]

Well, Australia doesn’t mess around with quarantine requirements. Johnny and Amber obviously thought they were above the law. Johnny hasn’t publicly commented on the matter, but he must have been steaming mad. This has turned into a huge case that’s swallowed up public resources. Let’s get real though. Johnny won’t go to prison. He’ll end up paying the huge fine, or the Pirates production will pay it for him.

FYI, here’s the newest Black Mass trailer. Johnny’s still doing a Goodfellas impression while talking to young children and charming old ladies.

Photos courtesy of Jerry Bruckheimer on Twitter, Fame/Flynet & WENN