What is the substantive reasonableness of a criminal sentence?

We review the substantive reasonableness of a criminal sentence under a "deferential abuse-of-discretion standard." United States v. Cavera, 550 F.3d 180, 189 (2d Cir. 2008) (en banc) (quotation marks omitted). Our inquiry "focuses on a district court's explanation of its sentence in light of the factors contained in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)." United States v. Gonzalez, 529 F.3d 94, 98 (2d Cir. 2008). A sentence will be set aside as substantively unreasonable "only in exceptional cases where the trial court's decision cannot be located within the range of permissible decisions." Cavera, 550 F.3d at 189 (quotation marks omitted).

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