What is the standard of review for a denial of a discretionary sentence for abuse of discretion?

"We typically review the denial of a motion for a discretionary sentence reduction for abuse of discretion." United States v. Holloway, 956 F.3d 660, 664 (2d Cir. 2020). Even with that standard of review, however, uncertainty surrounding public health guidance and a defendant's individualized characteristics can complicate our assessment of whether extraordinary and compelling circumstances exist. Therefore, although 3582(c)(1)(A) permits a district court to end its analysis if it determines that extraordinary and

compelling reasons for granting the motion are absent, ^[4] our review on appeal is aided considerably when the district court, as here, also analyzes the 3553(a) factors-particularly in those cases where it is a close call whether extraordinary and compelling circumstances exist.