WASHINGTON —  The Justice Department said Wednesday it will spend $5 million to create 43 new jobs for prosecutors targeting online sexual predators of children.

The assistant U.S. attorney positions are being funded through the government's Project Safe Neighborhood program, which aims to protect youngsters from online abuse and exploitation. The jobs will be distributed among 93 federal prosecutors' offices nationwide, focusing on where the need is greatest.

Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip announced the positions in brief visits to Charlotte, N.C., and Lexington, Ky., among those cities which will receive a new prosecutor.

"Anyone who uses the Internet to prey on children will become the primary target of law enforcement," Filip said in a statement.

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