NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A gun trafficking arrest exposed a criminal organization involved in bank fraud, according to prosecutors.

Police said it started with the arrest of 27-year-old Colin Toney and two associates, who allegedly sold 40 guns, which had been purchased in his home state of South Carolina, to undercover investigators in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The investigation also led to more a dozen alleged gang members who are now charged with a scheme to steal $60,000 from bank accounts, CBS2 reported.

"This is the kind of work the NYPD does everyday to keep this city safe." pic.twitter.com/52bCwB6UF7 — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 21, 2016

“At the heart of this long-term investigation is the trafficking of illegal firearms from South Carolina to New York City,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said. “These guns would be on our streets if not for the hard work of the NYPD detectives and prosecutors in Brooklyn.”

More than 40 illegal guns were taken off the streets of NYC thanks to this investigation. Great work @NYPDDetectives & @BrooklynDA pic.twitter.com/NmGYIs1eVl — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 21, 2016

“This case is about precision policing — it’s about targeting the guns, targeting the violence and targeting those who make weapons available on our streets,” O’Neill added.

A total of 19 people face various gun trafficking, bank larceny and weapons charges.

#HappeningNow: NYPD & @BrooklynDA announce 19 defendants charged in three separate indictments for allegedly selling 40 trafficked firearms pic.twitter.com/WdYiGC5Ngm — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 21, 2016

“These indictments are a testament of our resolve to continue going after firearm traffickers, who endanger the safety of our communities for profit, and gang members, who often fund their crimes through larceny and fraud,” Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. “Gun runners and those who aid them should be on notice that they are not safe from prosecution just because they live out of state – we will arrest them and bring them to Brooklyn to face justice.”