I can not afford to pay maintenance fees on 2 time shares that I own. 
 If I discontinue paying and turn them back in, will I be prosecuted
in anyway at any time in my life.....

Time share contracts are subject to different laws, state or national.
 Where are your time shares located, what do the contracts say about
reselling and where are they based (the location of the units and that
of the operator, if the contract does not specify a legal "home")?

Your timeshare property is like any other property.  Fail to pay and
the entity you owe money to will foreclose on your weeks.  They will
try to sell them for at least what you owe.  If the weeks do not sell
for what you owe you are responsible for any balance.  Will the
timeshare management come after you in civil court? All depends on
what their polidy is.

Bottom line, call them and ask them if they will take the weeks in
lieu of your maintenance fees and interest in the property.