The defendants are allegedly associated with the Bloods gang, a statement said.

“It is alleged that one arm of the criminal organization operated in the area of Henrico and Richmond, while the other arm of the conspiracy operated in the cities of Hampton and Newport News,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

In addition to the 17 people from the Richmond area, one person each is from Bristow and Woodbridge in Northern Virginia, two are from Hampton, and another is from Newport News. One person is from Brooklyn, and another is from Washington, D.C.

The district attorney identified the leaders of the conspiracy as Damian King of Bristow, Jacquan Spencer of Hampton and Levar Shelborne of Richmond. Others are accused of being straw purchasers who bought guns to give to co-defendants for resale.

Ten people, along with the three leaders, were charged with bringing up to a dozen guns illegally into New York City at a time by car or bus.

An undercover officer in New York bought the 217 assault weapons, Tommy guns and handguns, prosecutors said. It was the largest gun bust in Brooklyn’s history, Gonzalez’s office said.