What a difference a year makes for the Andersons.

After disgraced ex-Boston city councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was convicted and jailed on federal corruption charges last year, she can now welcome home her husband — a convicted murderer who was initially sentenced to life without parole.

The Massachusetts Parole Board is freeing Tanzerious Anderson, who was 19-years-old in 2000 when he shot and killed a man during a robbery in Brighton.

Tanzerious was convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm in 2002. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

But the now 44-year-old man became parole eligible after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s 2024 decision in Commonwealth v. Mattis. The court ruled that emerging adults — those 18 to 20 at the time of the offense — could not be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Tanzerious last summer appeared before the Parole Board for his initial hearing. The board has now OK’d his parole to an approved home plan, despite opposition from the Suffolk DA’s office and the victim’s family.

“He wasn’t 13 or 14 years old at the time when he killed my brother, and he knew what he did,” Imam Yazbek’s brother said in a statement to the Parole Board.

“I was told after the conviction that he will never come out of prison,” the brother said, later adding, “He (Tanzerious) had everything, but he chose to be evil and he killed my beloved brother for $40. He wasn’t happy that it was only $40, and that was enough for him to take my brother’s life… He ruined my life, and my family’s life…I have no forgiveness for him.”

Yazbek — an immigrant from Lebanon who was a small business owner — was killed on March 27, 2000, during a robbery at a Brighton apartment complex. The robbery was planned and orchestrated by Tanzerious, Joleena Tate, and Jason Robinson.

Earlier in the day, Tate asked Tanzerious if he wanted to “rob someone,” as he was preparing to leave a friend’s house. Tanzerious agreed to participate in the robbery and invited Robinson to join.

Tate suggested robbing Yazbek because she knew that he carried large amounts of cash and believed that he wouldn’t resist during a robbery. The three agreed that Tate would contact Yazbek and make the arrangements.

Tate and Yazbek had dinner together and drove to 89 Faneuil St., where Tate expected Tanzerious and Robinson would be waiting. When Tanzerious and Robinson arrived, Tate said, “We’re being robbed,” and walked away.

The men led Yazbek inside. About five minutes later, Tate heard a loud noise.

Another witness heard a loud noise, and saw Tanzerious and Robinson running from the building. The trio then left in Tanzerious’ car.

Shortly after the murder, Tanzerious told Tate that the men had instructed Yazbek to keep his hands up and not look behind him. However, Yazbek continued to move his hands and reached for the doorknob.

Yazbek told the robbers that he was a good person, did not want any trouble, and knew people in the area.

Tanzerious believed that Yazbek said, “Police, police.” Despite Yazbek denying that he was a police officer, Tanzerious panicked and shot him.

Tanzerious during his parole hearing apologized to Yazbek and his family.

“I can only presume (he) came to this country and started a business because he believed in the potential and possibility of the American dream, and because of cowardly actions, Mr. Yazbek was denied his dream and turned his American experience into a nightmare,” Tanzerious said. “And for that, I’m incredibly sorry.”

“I sincerely regret the choices I made that early morning,” he added. “And I’m truly sorry. I apologize to Mr. Yazbek’s family for robbing them of a son, a brother, and a cherished member of his family.”

The Parole Board in its decision said Tanzerious has addressed his need areas through several programs: Violence Reduction, Restorative Justice, Knowledge in Recovery, Occupational Skills Development, and education.

He engaged in higher education in the DOC, earning credits toward his associate degree. The board noted that he only had one guilty disciplinary report in 25 years.

“The Board considered the forensic evaluation and testimony from Dr. Herzog, who deems him low risk for violence and low risk for recidivism,” the board wrote. “He has a significant support system and re-entry plan that will address his need areas related to long-term incarceration… The Board concludes by unanimous decision that Tanzerious Anderson has demonstrated a level rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society.”

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Tanzerious and Fernandes Anderson got married in 2013 while he was still sentenced for life without parole — 11 years before the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that emerging adults could not face life without parole. Fernandes Anderson has been pushing for his freedom.

She told Boston Magazine last year, “My friends asked me, ‘Why, you have nothing with him, nothing physical, no support?’ But when you know he is your person, you know. How dare I reject destiny?”

Fernandes Anderson last year accepted a plea deal with the feds. She pleaded guilty to and was convicted on two charges — wire fraud and theft concerning a federal program.

The charges were tied to a kickback scheme that federal authorities said Fernandes Anderson carried out at City Hall. The ex-Roxbury-centric councilor admitted to giving one of her staff members, a relative but not immediate family member, a $13,000 bonus on the condition that $7,000 be kicked back to her.

The handoff was coordinated by text and took place in a City Hall bathroom in June 2023.

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley’s office sought to lock up Fernandes Anderson for a year and a day, but a federal judge sentenced her to one month in jail. She served out her time at the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, a low-security co-ed prison that includes an adjacent minimum security satellite camp.

Fernandes Anderson was also ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution.