United States v. Daniel Wheeler

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Decided: June 5, 2026
• Docket: 25-1317
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _________________ No. 25-1317 _________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v.

DANIEL WHEELER, Appellant ________________ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 3:21-cr-00352-001) District Judge: Honorable Robert D. Mariani ________________ Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) May 14, 2026

Before: SHWARTZ, MASCOTT, and McKEE, Circuit Judges

(Opinion filed: June 5, 2026) ______________

OPINION * ______________

McKEE, Circuit Judge.

*This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent. Daniel Wheeler challenges the procedural and substantive reasonableness of his

168-month sentence for distributing heroin and fentanyl resulting in death, in violation of

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). For the reasons set forth below, we will affirm the

District Court’s judgment. 1

We review the procedural and substantive reasonableness of Wheeler’s sentence

for abuse of discretion. 2 When reviewing a sentence for reasonableness, we first consider

whether the district court committed any “significant procedural error, such as failing to

calculate (or improperly calculating) the Guidelines range, treating the Guidelines as

mandatory, failing to consider the [18 U.S.C.] § 3553(a) factors, selecting a sentence

based on clearly erroneous facts, or failing to adequately explain the chosen sentence—

including an explanation for any deviation from the Guidelines range.” 3 Second, we

consider the substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed, “tak[ing] into account

the totality of the circumstances.” 4 “[I]f the district court’s sentence is procedurally

1 Although we have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742 to review “allege[d] sentencing errors based upon a mistake of law or an incorrect application of the Guidelines . . . , we lack jurisdiction to review the extent of” discretionary downward departures. United States v. Torres, 251 F.3d 138, 145 (3d Cir. 2001). Thus, to the extent Wheeler seeks review of the amount of the departure granted, we lack jurisdiction to provide such review. See, e.g., id. at 143, 145 (concluding that there was no jurisdiction to review the defendant’s substantive challenge that “the District Court erred by failing to grant him a downward departure greater than the one month he received”). 2 United States v. Jackson, 132 F.4th 266, 272 (3d Cir. 2025), cert. denied, 223 L. Ed. 2d 504 (Jan. 12, 2026). 3 Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). 4 Id. 2 sound, we will affirm it unless no reasonable sentencing court would have imposed the

same sentence on that particular defendant for the reasons the district court provided.” 5

The District Court granted a downward departure and sentenced Wheeler to 168

months’ imprisonment. Wheeler contends that the District Court should have departed

further from the Guidelines range. In fashioning a sentence, however, the District Court

considered the information the parties presented, explained its basis for granting a

departure, followed our precedent regarding the § 3553(a) factors, and acknowledged its

discretion in determining the amount to depart. 6 It cannot be said that no reasonable court

would have imposed a 168-month sentence on Wheeler for distributing heroin and

fentanyl resulting in death. The District Court’s sentence was procedurally and

substantively reasonable. Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment.

5 United States v. Tomko, 562 F.3d 558, 568 (3d Cir. 2009). 6 As stated previously, we lack jurisdiction to review that determination. Torres, 251 F.3d at 143,145. 3