Federal authorities say 17 people have been sentenced in a coastal Georgia gang crackdown.

Officials said Monday that 17 Savannah men ranging from 19 to 53 years old have been convicted and sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. Authorities say the men were sentenced to between 20 months and 15 years in prison.

Authorities say 40 people were targeted in "Operation Ruffian," which was led by the Savannah Area Regional Gun Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police department.

Prosecutors say the men were responsible for distributing cocaine and other drugs in the Savannah area valued at more than $188,000.

Investigators say they recovered 43 guns during their investigation into the men.

Tags: Savannah, coastal gang, Operation Ruffian